Voices of dissent: Russian activists in Lithuania protest against the war in Ukraine

Vilnius, October 1, 2024 - At 15:00, an event dedicated to the Day of Defenders of Ukraine was held at the Russian Embassy.

The main goal of the event was to draw attention to the issue of Ukrainian prisoners of war held in inhumane conditions in Russia.

The organizers of the event called on the international community not to ignore these violations and to facilitate the release of all prisoners.

Among the participants were Ukrainians and former Russians who left their country due to political circumstances. Among them were Natalia and Stanislav Vasilievs, Vlad Shipitsyn, who were granted political asylum in Lithuania after the outbreak of the war.

They actively support Ukraine, participate in events and organize protests against Russian aggression.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Participants' stories

Natalia and Stanislav Vasiliev, a couple from Moscow, told us about their journey to Lithuania.

At the beginning of the war, we were still in Russia, living in Moscow. We managed to go to those big anti-war rallies. They were really large-scale, and it even gave us some hope that change was possible, that there was at least something left of the Russian people. Even I believed a little bit. But these rallies came to nothing, Natalia recalls.

On March 1, 2022, the couple left Russia, going to Belarus and obtaining a visa to Lithuania.

We had no clear plan. Our children at that moment were in Kyiv under fire, without electricity, everyone knows these stories, Natalia adds.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Adaptation in Lithuania

The Vasylievs talked about their adaptation in Lithuania:

We quickly got to know people. Both here, with the locals, Valdas Bartkevicius and Vlad Shipitsyn. We still have such strong social ties. We found each other and realized that we had something to do here.

The goal of the action

The main goal of the action was to draw attention to the fate of Ukrainian prisoners of war.

Today is the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, and the main theme of our action is to demand the release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war from Russian captivity, explains Vlad Shipitsyn.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Especially those who were illegally convicted by Russian courts in violation of the Geneva Convention. The courts of the aggressor state have no grounds to convict combatants, combatants. Especially those whose only fault is that they were defending their homeland and their family, Shipitsyn said.

Methods of protest

Protesters hung information leaflets on trees near the embassy.

This was done so that the embassy staff could see the people who come to the consular department to draw up any documents. So that they know that they cannot hide behind this wall and cannot hear or see anything, Vlad explains.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

The experience of protests in Russia

The action participants spoke about their experience of protests back in Russia. Vlad recalled:

On September 2, 2017, I stood on Nevsky Prospekt with a Ukrainian flag. People were walking and spitting, but I stood there for an hour.” He also added: “Until I was 21, until I was 20, in 17-18 we had a strategy in support of the Crimean Tatars and against Russian aggression.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Reaction of “good Russians”

The activists noted that they face criticism from so-called “good Russians.”

They call us trans-Ukrainians, says Vlad Shipitsyn.

But those who know me know that I have not changed my position. I have always taken part in actions not to free Navalny, but to support Ukraine against the concentration of Russian troops near the border, he adds confidently.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Risks and fears

Despite the potential risks, the protesters continue their activities.

There is always fear, but here in Lithuania, we live in a free society. No one will grab me here and take me to jail. I left to avoid ending up in prison like my friend Olga Smirnova. She is now in prison for supporting Ukraine. I was detained several times. I was in different police stations, Vlad said.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Reaction of the local population

According to the organizers, the majority of Lithuanians support Ukraine, although some sympathize with the Putin regime.

There are such Lithuanians, and there are quite a few of them. One of these people is Laurinas Ragelskis, he comes and provokes us. He, a Lithuanian, considers us traitors to the homeland. What homeland? You are a traitor to Lithuania, a traitor to your homeland. If you think that the Soviet Union was good and you are trying to bring that time back here. But most Lithuanians, of course, support Ukraine. We can see that, Vlad says indignantly.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Monitoring by the embassy

The participants of the action noticed that they were being watched.

Before the action started, we saw two people who we believed were from the embassy and they were watching us. But when the rally started, they disappeared, Shipitsyn said.

Natalia adds:

Of course, they monitor Facebook. There is no doubt about it, because, for example, both my husband and I were banned from Facebook by the embassy.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

Other actions

The activists told us about other actions they had organized:

We protested against Meladze and Shenderovich's concerts. We wanted to take some radical measures to show that they shouldn't be allowed in, that they shouldn't be listened to, Natalia says.

October 1, 2024. Russian activists in Lithuania protested against the war in Ukraine / photo: Maria Dziuba

This protest is just one of many organized by Russian activists in Lithuania. They continue their struggle, hoping that their voices will be heard and will be able to influence the situation in Russia and support Ukraine in its struggle for independence.