The protest, led by Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, called for an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine and the removal of Vladimir Putin.
Participants also demanded Putin face trial as a war criminal and urged the release of political prisoners in Russia.
Protesters carried banners and chanted slogans such as “No to war!” and “Russia without Putin!”
The march ended at the Russian Embassy in Berlin. Organizers estimated the crowd at around 2,000 people, according to Hotnews.
Berlin, home to a significant community of Russian exiles, was chosen as a key location for the event.
Kremlin Dismissed Protest
The march was an attempt to revive the anti-Putin movement. This effort has been weakened by years of Kremlin crackdowns and internal divisions.
Opposition leaders have faced arrests, exile, and even assassination attempts.
Yulia Navalnaya led the protest alongside opposition figures Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza. Both men have spent years in prison and survived attacks for their criticism of the Kremlin.
The Russian opposition has struggled to operate since Alexei Navalny’s death in prison earlier this year.
Navalny was a central figure in the anti-Putin movement. His absence has left opposition groups fragmented and underfunded.
Scandals and infighting have further strained the movement. Allegations of corruption within Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) and disputes among activists have created frustration.
Protest organizers hoped the march would signal a new beginning for the opposition.
The Kremlin dismissed the protest. Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mocked the exiled opposition, claiming they were "out of touch" with Russia and irrelevant.
Despite this, participants said the protest showed that not all Russians support Putin or his war. Protester Polina Zelenskaya said the march was a show of democratic values and opposition to war crimes.
