Kasparov tells Rus.ERR: 'Russian Taiwan' could help rehabilitate Russia

Legendary chess grandmaster and Russian opposition figure Garry Kasparov gave an interview to Rus.ERR in which he discussed his vision for weakening Putin's regime and helping Ukraine win. Kasparov is one of the most ardent supporters of the view that change in Russia is impossible without military defeat at the hands of Ukraine.

Russian chess legend and prominent political figure Garry Kasparov gave an extensive interview to Rus.ERR in which he addressed the current state and prospects of the Russian opposition movement and ways to end the war in Ukraine. Kasparov, who himself lives in exile, stressed that the majority of Russia's anti-war opposition is currently located abroad and the movement is far from unified.

Opposition and divisions

The main point of contention within the Russian opposition community concerns how actively Ukraine should be supported. Kasparov himself holds the view that without Russia's complete military defeat, genuine change in the country is not possible. This position sets him apart from several other opposition figures in exile who prefer more moderate approaches.

The 'Russian Taiwan' idea

In the interview, Kasparov introduced the so-called "Russian Taiwan" concept as one possible tool through which Russia could be rehabilitated in the future. According to him, such a project would make it possible to create an alternative democratic Russian identity that would serve as a counterpoint to Moscow's authoritarian course and would help in the longer term to lay the foundation for Russia's political transformation.

Kasparov also explained what specific measures the international community could use to weaken the current Russian leadership. According to him, consistent and uncompromising support from Western countries for Ukraine is the most direct path that leads both to Ukraine's victory and to changes in Russia.