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Life After Putin: Potential Scenarios for a Post-Authoritarian Russia

Date: Friday, February 16, 2024 / Time: 10:00am - 11:30am EST

Center: Russia and Europe Center

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Many hundreds of thousands of Russians have fled their ever-more authoritarian country since the start of Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, joining a global exile community that has been growing for years. These people are natural allies against Russia’s war in Ukraine, and a key hope for reestablishing any future free and open Russian society.

On February 16, USIP, the Institute of Current World Affairs, and American Purpose hosted the final event in a series featuring prominent figures in Russia’s exile community. This conversation examined plausible scenarios for a post-authoritarian Russia, including questions on decolonialization, collective understanding of history and Russian identity, the interests of minority regions, and the possible role of the United States and other Western countries based on lessons learned from the post-Soviet 1990s.

Speakers

Jorgan Andrews
State Department Fellow, U.S. Institute of Peace

Natalia Arno
President and Founder, Free Russia Foundation.

Sergei Guriev
Provost and Professor of Economics, Sciences Po Paris University; Former Rector, New Economic School, Moscow

Mikhail Zygar
Founding Editor-in-Chief, Dozhd

Miriam Lanskoy, moderator
Senior Director, Russia and Eurasia, National Endowment for Democracy

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