Kasparov to ERR: Change in Russia is impossible without defeat in Ukraine

Chess champion and Russian opposition figure Garri Kasparov believes that no change is possible in Russia before the country suffers military defeat in Ukraine. In an interview with ERR, he discussed how to weaken Putin's government and accelerate Ukraine's victory.

Garri Kasparov, one of the most vocal voices of Russian anti-war opposition, is firm in his conviction: no meaningful change in Russia is possible before the country experiences military defeat in Ukraine. In an interview with ERR, the former world chess champion explained what steps should be taken to weaken Kremlin power and support Ukraine's victory on the battlefield.

Opposition fragmentation in exile

Most of the Russian anti-war opposition now operates in exile, scattered across different countries. However, Kasparov is among those who believe this opposition cannot be effective as long as it lacks a common and clear objective. In his assessment, Ukraine's military victory is necessary not only for Ukraine, but for the entire free world — and indeed for Russia's own future.

Kasparov's message to the West

Garri Kasparov has repeatedly called on the West to provide Ukraine with more heavy weapons and to abandon hesitations that, in his view, only prolong the war and increase casualties. According to Kasparov, Putin's regime has shown that it responds only to force — and every concession is interpreted in the Kremlin as weakness, which encourages further acts of aggression.

Kasparov also emphasized that the true potential of Russia's opposition can only be realized after the current military and political regime has been sufficiently weakened from within or from without. Until then, all promises of democracy and reform remain, in his assessment, mere words lacking any credible foundation.