Open Russia
Open Russia is a Russian civil-society and pro-democracy organization founded by Mikhail Khodorkovsky and relaunched as a nationwide civic platform in 2014.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Open Russia is a Russian civil-society organization associated with former Yukos chief executive Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Its first incarnation was established in 2001 as a foundation intended to build and strengthen civil society in Russia. The organization supported educational initiatives, youth programs, internet education, regional journalism, philanthropic work, and projects connected with human-rights organizations. Its early governance included prominent international figures such as Henry Kissinger and Lord Jacob Rothschild. After Khodorkovsky was arrested in 2003, operational leadership passed first to Leonid Nevzlin and later to Nikolay Bychkov. By 2005, the foundation reportedly had 23 regional affiliates, but repeated attention from Russian tax authorities and the freezing of its bank accounts contributed to the closure of the original structure in 2006. Khodorkovsky relaunched Open Russia on 20 September 2014 after his release from prison and exile. The second initiative was presented as a nationwide community platform for Russians interested in improving public life, rather than as a conventional political party. It operated within a broader group of activities sometimes described as Open Media. Its stated priorities included independent journalism, political education, the rule of law, support for political prisoners, anti-corruption work, constitutional reform, and free and fair elections. Although the organization said it would not itself become a political party, it planned to support candidates who promoted competitive elections and democratic reforms. Khodorkovsky also advocated a constitutional rebalancing that would reduce the concentration of power in the presidency and strengthen the legislature and judiciary. The relaunched organization used online forums, public lectures, regional events, and digital media to reach supporters. Its launch featured contributions from activists and émigrés including Sergei Guriev and Yevgeny Chichvarkin, while public programming included talks by Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Arina Borodina, and Dmitry Olshansky. Open Russia said that its online forums addressed topics such as health-care reform and corruption. The first major online forum reportedly attracted more than 70,000 viewers. The organization also sought to support opposition-minded candidates and civic activists, making it a prominent target of state pressure. Authorities disrupted or restricted several activities. Internet connections reportedly failed during the 2014 relaunch events, the organization said that its website was targeted by distributed-denial-of-service attacks, and some activists were prevented from attending events. Security officers raided its Moscow office in April 2015, while the Justice Ministry requested an investigation and pressed the organization to identify itself as a foreign agent. In 2017, Russia's Prosecutor General designated Open Russia an undesirable organization, effectively prohibiting its activities in the country. Roskomnadzor subsequently added its website to the national register of blocked sites. Facing a proposed expansion of criminal liability for involvement with undesirable organizations and increased pressure before the 2021 parliamentary elections, Open Russia announced on 27 May 2021 that it would cease operations in Russia to reduce the risk of prosecution and imprisonment for its members. The organization has therefore not operated openly in Russia since that announcement, while related media and civic activity continued under other names, including Mozhem Obyasnit. The later prosecution of former Open Russia head Andrey Pivovarov illustrated the legal risks associated with the organization's designation. Open Russia is best understood as a civic and political-advocacy brand whose history spans philanthropy, democratic activism, independent media, and confrontation with Russian restrictions on civil society.
History
Open Russia began in 2001 as a foundation created by Mikhail Khodorkovsky and shareholders of Yukos. Its stated mission was to develop civil society in Russia. The foundation combined philanthropy with institution-building and supported educational initiatives, youth programs, internet education, regional journalism, and human-rights projects. Its board included former U.S. secretary of state Henry Kissinger and British financier Lord Jacob Rothschild, giving the project an unusually prominent international profile. Khodorkovsky's arrest in 2003 changed the foundation's leadership. Leonid Nevzlin assumed responsibility, followed later by Nikolay Bychkov. The organization expanded through regional affiliates and reportedly had 23 such branches by 2005. At the same time, it faced repeated inspections by Russia's Federal Tax Service. Open Russia viewed a February 2005 inspection as an effort to discredit one of the few structures still associated with Khodorkovsky. The first incarnation ended in 2006 after Russian authorities froze its bank accounts and the foundation closed. The organization returned on 20 September 2014, following Khodorkovsky's release from prison and relocation abroad. The new Open Russia was framed as a nationwide community platform rather than a charitable foundation or political party. It sought to connect Russians concerned about public institutions and living standards, while advancing independent media, political education, legal reform, support for political prisoners, anti-corruption work, and free elections. Its reform agenda included proposals to strengthen the legislature and judiciary and reduce the concentration of authority in the presidency. Although it avoided presenting itself as a direct electoral party, it considered supporting candidates who defended competitive elections. The relaunch relied heavily on digital communication and public events. Open Lectures and online forums covered subjects including health-care reform and corruption, while speakers and contributors included Lyudmila Ulitskaya, Arina Borodina, Dmitry Olshansky, Sergei Guriev, and Yevgeny Chichvarkin. The first major forum reportedly drew more than 70,000 viewers. The initiative quickly attracted official pressure. The organization described internet disruptions during launch events, interference with regional meetings, and distributed-denial-of-service attacks against its website. In April 2015, security officers raided its Moscow office. The Justice Ministry subsequently sought scrutiny of its activities and urged it to adopt the foreign-agent designation. State pressure intensified after Russia adopted its undesirable-organizations framework. In 2017, the Prosecutor General designated Open Russia undesirable. This status prohibited the organization from conducting activities in Russia and exposed participants and supporters to legal risk. Roskomnadzor blocked the organization's website later that year. The designation was notable because Open Russia had been founded by Russians and primarily operated within Russia, distinguishing it from many earlier targets of the law. By 2021, the authorities were preparing stronger criminal penalties for people involved with undesirable organizations. On 27 May, Open Russia announced that it would cease operations in Russia to protect members from prosecution and imprisonment. Related media and civic work continued under other labels, with Open Media later known as Mozhem Obyasnit. The subsequent prosecution of former head Andrey Pivovarov demonstrated the continuing consequences of the designation: in July 2022 he was sentenced to four years in prison for alleged activity on behalf of an undesirable organization. Open Russia's history consequently reflects both an evolution from philanthropy to political and civic advocacy and the shrinking space for independent civil-society organizations in contemporary Russia.
- 2022
Former head sentenced
[1]Former head Andrey Pivovarov was sentenced to four years for alleged activity connected with an undesirable organization.
- 2021
Operations in Russia ended
[1]Open Russia announced the suspension of its Russian operations to protect members from criminal prosecution.
- 2017
Designated undesirable
[1]Russia's Prosecutor General listed Open Russia as an undesirable organization, effectively banning its operations in the country.
- 2014
Open Russia relaunched
[1]Khodorkovsky relaunched the organization as a nationwide civic platform focused on democratic and institutional reform.
- 2006
First incarnation closed
[1]The original foundation closed after Russian authorities froze its bank accounts.
- 2005
Regional network expanded
[1]Open Russia reportedly reached 23 regional affiliates while facing repeated tax inspections.
- 2003
Leadership changed after Khodorkovsky's arrest
[1]Leonid Nevzlin took over leadership of the organization after Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested.
- 2001
Foundation established
[1]The first Open Russia foundation was established to support civil society, education, journalism, and human-rights initiatives in Russia.
Products and positioning
A non-governmental, pro-democracy civic platform focused on civil society, independent media, rule-of-law reform, human rights, and competitive elections in Russia.
Public education · 2014
Open Lectures
A public-programming initiative featuring talks by writers, journalists, analysts, and civic figures. The lectures were presented in live and online formats and were intended to broaden access to discussion about Russian society, politics, public institutions, and reform.
Digital civic engagement · 2014
Online forums
Open Russia hosted online forums on public-policy subjects including health-care reform and corruption. These events allowed the organization to reach audiences across regions and formed an important part of its nationwide community-platform model.
Policy advocacy · 2014
Reforms Program
A policy program focused on reforming law enforcement and constitutional arrangements. Its broad objective was to reinforce the rule of law, improve institutional accountability, and redistribute power away from an excessively dominant presidency toward the legislature and judiciary.
Controversies
2022
Pivovarov prosecution
Former Open Russia head Andrey Pivovarov was imprisoned after being convicted of carrying out activities allegedly connected with an undesirable organization.
2017
Designation as an undesirable organization
Russian authorities classified Open Russia as undesirable, prohibiting its activities in Russia and exposing participants to possible legal sanctions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Nationwide relaunch and civic-platform campaign
Russia
Open Russia introduced itself as a nationwide community platform through a video-linked launch and public events involving Russian activists, intellectuals, and émigrés.
Outcome. The relaunch established the organization as a visible pro-democracy and civil-society initiative but was accompanied by reported interference and connectivity disruptions.
- 2014Open Lectures
Russia
A touring and online lecture series brought public discussions on Russian society and politics to wider audiences.
Outcome. The initiative became one of the organization's principal public-education formats.
- 2014Election and reform advocacy
Russia
Open Russia planned to support candidates who advocated free and fair elections while promoting constitutional and rule-of-law reforms.
Outcome. The effort increased the organization's political visibility and contributed to official scrutiny.
Brand decisions
2021
End operations in RussiaStrategyBackground
The undesirable-organization designation and proposed criminal penalties created substantial risks for members and supporters.
Action taken
Open Russia announced on 27 May that it would cease operating in Russia.
Aftermath
Related media activity continued under successor or associated names, while former personnel remained exposed to prosecution.
2014
Relaunch as a nationwide civic platformStrategyBackground
After Khodorkovsky's release, the organization sought to re-enter public life without becoming a conventional political party.
Action taken
Open Russia adopted a platform centered on independent media, civic education, human rights, rule-of-law reform, and competitive elections.
Aftermath
The organization developed public forums and candidate-support initiatives but became a target of escalating state pressure.
Recent events
- 2021
Open Russia ceased operations in Russia[1]
Regulation
The organization announced that it would stop operating in Russia to protect members from criminal prosecution and imprisonment under expanding rules concerning undesirable organizations.
- 2017
Russian authorities designated Open Russia undesirable[1]
Regulation
The Prosecutor General classified Open Russia as an undesirable organization, effectively banning its activities in Russia.
- 2017
Open Russia's website was blocked[1]
Regulation
Roskomnadzor added the organization's website to Russia's registry of blocked websites.
- 2015
Authorities raided Open Russia's Moscow office[1]
Regulation · Other
Security officers raided the organization's Moscow office amid growing official scrutiny of its activities.
- 2014
Open Russia relaunched as a nationwide civic platform[1]
Product launch
Mikhail Khodorkovsky relaunched Open Russia with an agenda centered on civil society, independent media, political education, rule-of-law reform, and democratic elections.
- 2014
Security pressure and disruptions followed the relaunch[1]
Other
Open Russia reported connection failures, interference with regional events, and denial-of-service attacks during or around its launch activities.
Sources2 sources
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