October 25 at 15:30-17:00 CET

Spinelli 5E3 at the European Parliament, Brussels, and online

Russia’s full-scale war in Ukraine has been a startling and painful reminder of Russia’s imperial and colonial ambitions. Neither the colonial expansion of the Russian Empire, nor the Soviet crimes and aggression have been properly evaluated or condemned. Present-day Russia’s historical revisionism and revanchist policies are a continuation of colonial claims in Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Siberia.

Ethnic discrimination and oppression faced by different peoples within contemporary Russia and within its neighbourhood is an integral and crucial part of the imperial mentality. The speakers of the event – prominent human rights defenders from Siberia, Caucasus, Central Asia, Ukraine, and Russia – will present their experiences and insights from the region and discuss how policies of ethnic oppression relate to war and military aggression waged by Russia, where different ethnic groups and peoples are used against each other.

The event is hosted by MEP Rasa Juknevičienė in cooperation with Anti-Discrimination Centre Memorial, Brussels-based human rights organization founded in Saint Petersburg, Russia to advocate for the rights of minorities across the country.