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Colorado For Democracy in Russia (CDIR):
Promoting Democracy
Our community organizes rallies against Russian aggression in Ukraine and in support of Russian opposition movement
Our activists participate in various Ukrainian fundraising events to support civil volunteer-based projects in Ukraine
Standing with Ukraine
Supporting Political Prisoners
Advocacy Campaigns
Our activists write letters to political prisoners and implement various methods for their immediate release
We work with our legislative representatives to shape a common understanding of a path to end the war in Ukraine and to build a democratic and prosperous Russia
Collaborating with Other Organizations
Meeting with Russian Political and Cultural Actors
We organize meeting events with Russian public figures that stand in opposition to the current Russian aggressive regime
We collaborate with other U.S. and international organizations to strengthen our fight for democracy and human rights in Russia
Our vision is to unite Colorado to help Russia reach its potential in becoming the prosperous free nation we want it to be.
Organized in January of 2021 after the poisoning and later imprisonment of Alexei Navalny, and formed in April of 2023 after the full Russian invasion of Ukraine, our community is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in the state of Colorado.
Our team
Irina Rastello
Community Outreach Director
Irina has received a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Colorado Denver with the focus on state and local governments. She has extensive experience in working with federal and non-federal entities, specifically with the focus on reviewing and negotiating award agreements.
Evgeny Galitskiy
Evgenii taught foreign languages to students at the Linguistic University he had graduated from or performing on stage with his hip-hop group in Siberia, he truly believed that the liberal and heartfelt approach to the audience, as well as the freedom of self-expression, are key to building a healthy and progressive society.
While working at the television as an anchorman, Evgeny took a radical anti-militarist position regarding Russia's invasion of Crimea and Donbas in 2014-2015. He used every opportunity to speak up against Putin's actions on and off-screen.
Program Director
President, Founder
Arina has worked as a volunteer in St. Petersburg's Alexei Navalny's office. She has experience with political campaigns, organizing protest rallies and operating a successful business in Russia. Arina came here as a political asylum seeker after she was detained in Russia for her political activity and was threatened with a criminal case.
Advocacy Director
Laurie Wilson
Arina Afonicheva
Laurie Wilson's love for Russia began when she was an exchange student in 1995 and witnessed first-hand the times when Russia has become a democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union. It has been painful to see how Vladimir Putin has made Russia fall back to its past...Laurie has been an avid advocate for bringing democracy to Russia through focusing on aid to Ukraine.
