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Analogous to the corresponding question about Ukraine:

All the official news coverage I've seen have indicated most of Russia is determined in continued fighting in Ukraine, saying things like that they will extend territorial claims and are not finished with the war.

Still, the picture might be misleading because Russia can and does suppress opposition quite heavily, not only since the introduction of the law forbidding any criticism of the official position on the war (well you could not legally call it that in Russia). This might hint at that there is a faction within Russia that's in favor of collaborating with Ukraine, and by implication in favor of an immediate ceasefire.

Is there any indication that there is a political faction in Russia (in Parliament or otherwise organized) favoring an immediate ceasefire and publicly advocating it? If not, what about the Russian population at large? As I understand it Russia has criminalized collaboration with Ukraine (which by their definition includes expression of resistance against the war or even calling it as such), hence if such a faction exists I imagine it'll either be underground or among Russian exiles.

I'm referring to Russians who think Russia should implement an immediate ceasefire and say so, but don't identify as Ukrainian (e.g. by taking up Ukrainian citizenship) and will choose to remain Russian afterwards.

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  • I'm not sure if "immediate ceasefire" is a realistic action that Russian leadership could implement - at least as of September 2022 in some areas Ukraine currently was on the offensive and would explicitly not agree to a ceasefire at the status quo frontline, and IIRC that was the case also at July 2022 when this question was originally asked. A more relevant question would be "is there a political faction in Russia publicly advocating for a withdrawal of Russian troops out of the occupied territories", which is what's required for peace but is very, very different from just a ceasefire.
    – Peteris
    Sep 22, 2022 at 19:13
  • @Peteris At the time of writing of the question the situation was different. Tomorrow I will add to this question asking for Russians advocating for a ceasefire and immediate negotiations, possibly including partial withdrawal or complete withdrawal at least to borders from before February or negotiations with that aim. That should realistically present any peace fraction in Russia if it exists.
    – NoDataDumpNoContribution
    Sep 22, 2022 at 20:33

2 Answers 2

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35

Alexei Navalny is clearly against continuing the war (source):

It is now everyone’s duty to make at least some, even the smallest contribution to stop this war and remove Putin from power. Protest wherever and however you can. Agitate however you can and whomever you can. Inaction is the worst possible thing. And now its consequence is death.

He is the leader of the Russia of the Future party that is not officially registered.

Alexei Gorinov has been sentenced for seven years in jail for criticising Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Wikipedia claims he belongs to Солидарность but I cannot find the official position of this faction towards the war in Ukraine. The faction is against some other wars.

Legal, active factions advocating the cease fire immediately I think are unlikely as they would be banned. Statements against the war are not allowed. Anyone seen to be spreading what the government deems "fakes" about "military action in Ukraine" can earn up to 15 years in jail.

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  • 2
    "Legal, active factions advocating the cease fire immediately I think are unlikely as they would be banned." Interesting. What a strong contrast. In Ukraine, these fraction have their place in parliament and in Russia they are forbidden. But would saying "I want the so-called special military operation to end immediately" in Russia really be punishable? I guess so, but it's not clear on what grounds (although they may just make up some grounds if needed).
    – NoDataDumpNoContribution
    Jul 22, 2022 at 11:04
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    "Everything that’s not propaganda is being eliminated". I have linked the article.
    – Stančikas
    Jul 22, 2022 at 11:45
  • @Trilarion youtube.com/results?search_query=russians+arrested+against+war
    – Gantendo
    Jul 22, 2022 at 13:00
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    @Trilarion People have been arrested in Russia for holding up signs reading "*** *****" (literally, with asterisks) and even blank pieces of paper.
    – user253751
    Jul 22, 2022 at 20:21
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    Im Russian so yeah - if you are against and protesting, no matter what the law currently says, you will get in jail and after that the best thing that could happen to you is to get free a month later with a couple of bruises and broken bones and a notice from police that your family will be hunted if you try to do that again. Our prisons are not meant to rehabilitate but to completely destroy a human being, so if you get into jail, you either will be out as full fledged criminal or simply dead. That's the holding factor as to why we don't actively protest.
    – eocron
    Jul 23, 2022 at 7:48
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At least some oligarchs have expressed such an opinion as can be seen in this Reuters article and this Guardian one.

Also the Yabloko party, which is no longer represented in the main parliamentary Duma but is still represented in some local ones, is the main political opposition to the SMO (special military operation) and tried to organize some protests. There is also an official statement by Yabloko.

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