This panel features 
Sergei 
Chapnin
, Sarah Makin, Ben Weaver
, and moderator Ilya Ponomarev
 in a discussion on the role Russian Orthodoxy could play in restoring democracy after regime change, how to secure freedom of conscience in a multi-confessional Russia, and the realities of religious persecution both inside Russia and in occupied Ukrainian territories. Panelists bring expertise in theology, human rights, and policy to examine the challenges and possibilities for a more open, pluralistic future. The conversation will also address whether Church reform is possible—and if so, how it might contribute to healing and rebuilding in a post-authoritarian Russia.
Sergei 
Chapnin
 is a Russian Orthodox Christian journalist, contemporary Christian art curator, and former senior official within the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). He is preparing to present his forthcoming report to the United Nations documenting religious persecution in Russia from 2022 to 2025. During his service as executive editor of the Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate, Chapnin established himself as an expert on Orthodox culture while simultaneously developing a prophetic voice against the concerning alliance between Church and State. Following his dismissal in 2015 for his principled stance against this entanglement, he has emerged as a leading Orthodox public figure warning against the spiritual dangers of politicized faith, particularly under Patriarch Kirill's leadership and amid Russia's nationalist and militarist trajectory. Now residing in New York City, Chapnin serves as the director of communications at the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University since 2022, while continuing his ministry through writing and speaking internationally, bearing witness to the perilous consequences of state-aligned religion, the crisis of moral and spiritual leadership in contemporary Russian Orthodoxy, and the vital role of sacred art in preserving the integrity of Christian witness in the face of authoritarianism.
Sarah Makin
 is a human rights advocate, filmmaker, and former U.S. government official with deep expertise in international religious freedom. She served in the first Trump administration as Deputy Assistant to President Trump, Senior Director on the National Security Council, and the President’s Senior Advisor on International Religious Freedom. She worked on a range of policy initiatives related to religious liberty, civil society, and state-federal engagement. Makin is also a producer of Faith Under Siege, a documentary that investigates the persecution of religious communities in Russian-occupied Ukraine. Her work in Ukraine builds on a broader career dedicated to defending religious minorities, countering authoritarian repression, and advancing human rights. She continues to collaborate with international partners, civil society leaders, and faith communities to promote religious freedom and democratic resilience worldwide.
Information Source: eventbrite

Washington D.C.

United States

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Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.

Near Georgetown|Georgetown, Washington D.C.

Luxury Hotels

Waldorf Astoria Washington DC

Near The White House|The Mall, Washington D.C.

United States Capitol

Historic buildings

Night view

生长在海边的果果

The Capitol building needs to make an appointment to buy tickets in advance to visit. Arrive on time according to the requirements. There are many people. Be sure to have an advance amount to not affect the itinerary. You can make an appointment for a Chinese tour in advance. Although it is a Chinese tour, it is also a foreigner tour guide who speaks English and uses a translator to translate it into Chinese to play it for us. It is very interesting. The interior of the Capitol is also very good from the perspective of the building itself. You must explain it when you go in and visit.

The White House

泰迪小熊

Came here on September 22, 2017.

I heard that the White House has not been open to the public since 9/11. When we went there, we could only watch it from a distance outside the fence, so the White House became a boring landmark. We took a tourist check-in photo to end our visit.

There is a big pine tree on the south side of the White House. I didn&rsquo;t expect it to be a &quot;landmark&quot; as well, the &quot;National Christmas Tree&quot;... Well, it seems that we should choose to visit during Christmas.

Rosewood Washington DC

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Park Hyatt Washington DC

Near The White House|West End, Washington D.C.

Lincoln Memorial

_We***42

[Value for money] It is open 24 hours a day and is free. Although we went there at 6 o&#39;clock, it gets dark early in winter. But the momentum is still there.

But why do I feel that the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipei is so similar to the Lincoln Memorial!

[Scenery] It is magnificent! Facing the Washington Monument! At this moment, I suddenly remembered Chairman Mao&#39;s poem &quot;The country is so beautiful, attracting countless heroes to compete for it!

Washington Monument

铨上风满楼

Washington DC monument is one of the landmark buildings in Washington DC... It was built to commemorate the first president of the United States, George Washington. This stone monument was once the tallest building in the world... Today, it is still the tallest stone obelisk in the world...

National Mall

The National Mall is a must-check-in place for Washington tourism. One is the Lincoln Memorial and the other is the Washington Monument. There is a pool of water between them and green spaces on both sides. There are monuments such as the Victory Memorial of World War II, the Vietnam War and other monuments, and the Jefferson Memorial. The beautiful cherry blossoms of the annual Washington Cherry Blossom Festival are also in full bloom around this area. We arrived in Washington at the end of April. It is a pity that the cherry blossoms have been lost and have not left a trace. I can only imagine that the scene of blooming must be beautiful.

Time:	May 30, 2025 (UTC-4) ENDED
Location:	Free Peoples of Russia House

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United States Capitol

The White House

Rosewood Washington DC

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Park Hyatt Washington DC

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument

National Mall

Can Post-Regime Russia Embrace Christian Democracy? | Free Peoples of Russia House

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Four Seasons Hotel Washington, D.C.

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United States Capitol

The White House

Rosewood Washington DC

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, Washington, D.C.

Park Hyatt Washington DC

Lincoln Memorial

Washington Monument

National Mall

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