Andriy Volna's Address to PACE
Andriy Volna, a Russian doctor currently practicing in Ukraine, participated in the inaugural session of the Platform of Russian Democratic Forces at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg on January 29. This 15-member advisory body is intended for Russians holding anti-war positions who have signed the Berlin Declaration.
An ethnic Ukrainian born in Kemerovo, Volna has lived in Tallinn with his wife Vera and three daughters since 2022. He holds refugee status in Estonia, which restricts his stays in other countries to no more than 90 days within a six-month period, and works as a trauma surgeon in Ukraine, where he has obtained a medical license.
Volna is the first Russian doctor to whom Ukraine granted entry permission following the start of the full-scale invasion. In his Strasbourg address, he stressed the critical need to influence European public opinion to secure military aid for Ukraine, stating:
'My priority in Strasbourg is to influence Europeans to provide military assistance to Ukraine.' - Andriy Volna
He added that he came to Strasbourg to 'amplify the Ukrainian voice.' Volna also noted he would refuse to engage with certain representatives who were convicted on political charges during Putin's rule, declaring:
'Not just Ukrainians—I won't even speak with them.' - Andriy Volna
Composition of the Platform of Russian Democratic Forces
The Platform's membership, besides Andriy Volna, includes prominent figures such as:
- Nadezhda Tolokonnikova
- Oleg Orlov
- Mikhail Khodorkovsky
- Pavel Sulyandziga
Participants also include representatives from Russia's indigenous peoples who may seek independence, notably from Bashkortostan, Buryatia, Tatarstan, the North Caucasus (Ichkeria), and Ingria. Volna emphasized that Ukraine must build cooperation with countries like Hungary, Slovakia, Italy, Spain, and Portugal to strengthen its position within the European context.
Thus, Volna's participation in the PACE session highlights the efforts of Russian democratic forces to seek international support for Ukraine and to promote their anti-war stance. The engagement of such figures on international platforms like PACE reflects a notable, though limited, dissent within Russian society against the war. This activity could contribute to shaping new European alliances supportive of a peaceful resolution to the conflict.