In a powerful reflection, Suren Avanesyan shares his encounter with two leading Russian human rights lawyers, Vadim Prokhorov and Karina Moskalenko, who continue to defend political prisoners from exile. Their work before the European Court of Human Rights is one of the few remaining avenues for justice as political repression in Russia intensifies.
The piece revisits the imprisonment of Alexei Navalny and the moral choices made by those who resist authoritarianism despite the cost. For Avanesyan, their courage echoes a simple truth: “We must do something; we simply can’t do nothing.”
Drawing from his own experience as a young lawyer in 1990s Russia, Avanesyan recalls a time when democratic ideals felt real and achievable. He contrasts that moment of optimism with today’s reality—where the erosion of rights under Vladimir Putin reflects a broader global trend of democratic backsliding.
Yet, the author emphasizes that democracy is not just about elections, but about rights, rule of law, and human dignity. The courage of those who defend these principles in the face of authoritarianism must serve as a reminder: defending democracy is a moral imperative, even when success seems unlikely.