Serious challenges to democracy and the rule of law remain inside Russia. The elections to the State Duma in December 2011 and the Presidential elections in March 2012 were tainted by bans on opposition parties to register, vote rigging,ballot stuffing and glaring amount of vote count irregularities. Authorities maintain the firm grip of the Kremlin-machinery of media, press and the judiciary. 

The ALDE Group in the European Parliament has been pivotal in highlighting concern over developments in Russia in the European political debate over the last years. We therefore wish to initiate a broad public debate on how democracy and the rule of law can be supported inside Russia and how the rest of the world should engage with Russia, its rulers and Russian society, including the remaining opposition and remaining independent civil society organisations.

To move this debate forward, and to reflect on the results of the latest round of elections in Russia the ALDE Group will host an open hearing in the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium on 6 March 2012 and is willing to bring together prominent Russian personalities and civil society representatives.