2024-03-20 21:13 update: 2024-03-21, 20:23
Ilya Ponomarev. Photo PAP/EPA/SERGEY DOLZHENKO
The Congress of People's Deputies, an organisation describing itself as an elected shadow Russian parliament in exile, inaugurated its fifth plenary session in Warsaw on Wednesday.
The session will run until Saturday.
The Congress's leader, Ilya Ponomarev, described the organisation as "the political wing of Russian partisan formations that are fighting on the Ukrainian side and also undertake combat operations in the Belgorod and Kursk oblasts in Russia."
The Congress groups representatives of various factions opposed to the policies of Putin, and includes former MPs elected to the country's parliament, the Duma.
Its first plenary session was held in November 2022 in Jablonna, near Warsaw. During that and subsequent plenary sessions, the Congress adopted a host of documents intended to form the basis of "the legislative power of the future Russia" as well as the country's strategy and the formation of "temporary institutions for the transition period following the fall of the Putin regime."
During Wednesday's inaugural session, Ponomarev claimed that the Russian opposition were working "at the level of the government" of Ukraine, including in the field of documenting evidence of "Putin usurping power since 1999," as well as coordinating with Kyiv the actions of Russian partisan groups inside Russia.
Ponomarev said that in addition to Ukraine, the Congress's key partners were Poland, the USA, Canada and Germany.
He said his organisation was "formulating alternative governing bodies in Russia," adding that 10 years after the annexation of Crimea and two years after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Congress had "taken a different path."
"The future of our country is being decided right here," he said.
Wednesday's sitting of the Congress was attended by the deputy speaker of the Polish Senate, Michal Kaminski.
The Congress is taking place as Russian volunteer forces fighting for Ukraine continue their assault on towns and villages in the Belgorod region of western Russia. (PAP)
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