Meet the congress participants

All Regions

Masih Alinejad

Iran

Journalist and Human Rights Activist

Exiled

Omar Mohammed

Iraq

Historian./Journalist/Activism through “Mosul Eye” blog

Exiled

Fadi Elsalameen

Palestine

Non-resident fellow at the Foreign Policy Institute at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced
International Studies

Not exiled, Lives Between Palestine and the US

Faisal Al-Mutar

Iraq

Founder of Global Conversations and Ideas Beyond Borders

Exiled, Lives in the US

Sardar Pashaei

Iran

Activist and Former Professional Wrestler

Exiled, Lives in the US

Essam Daod

Israel

Co-founder of Humanity Crew/psychiatric/mental health advocate

Not Exiled, Lives in Greece

Mohamed Soltan

Egypt

Human rights advocate/former political prisoner

Exiled, Lives in the US

Saeid Dehghan

Iran

Human rights lawyer/writer/civil rights activist

Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Cameron Khansarinia

Iran

Policy Director | National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI)

Lives in the US

Ramy Yaacoub

Egypt

Government Relations | Aerospace Engineer | Media Executive | Founder of The Tahrir Institute
for Middle East Policy

Lives in the US

Nader Nadery

Afghanistan

Former Chairman/Civil Service Commission/Peace Negotiator

Lives in Afghanistan

Ali Nazary

Afghanistan

Political advisor/ Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF)

Lives in Afghanistan

Omar Alshogre

Syria

Refugee activist

Exiled, lives in Sweden/USA

Osama Issa

Jordan

Journalist, Activist, founder and CEO of Shexomedia for Human Rights

Not Exiled, Lives in Jordan

Abdalaziz Alhamza

Syria

Journalist, Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in Germany

Ammar Abdulhamid

Syria

Author, Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in the US

Roya Mahboob

Afghanistan

Businesswoman, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist

Exiled, Lives in the US

Zineb El Rhazoui

Morocco

Journalist

Exiled, Lives in France

Kasra Aarabi

Iran

Non-Resident Scholar

Exiled, Lives in the UK

Navid Mohebbi

Iran

Advocacy Director at National Union for Democracy in Iran (NUFDI)

Exiled, Lives in the US

Crystal Bayat

Afghanistan

Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in the US

Mouaz Moustafa

Syria

Activist, Executive Director of SETF

Exiled, Lives in the US

Enes Kanter Freedom

Turkey

Professional Basketball Player, Human Rights Activist

Lives in the US

Shahrzad Changalvaee

Iran

Artist

Not Exiled, Lives in the US

Nabhan Al Hanshi

Oman

Writer/Activist

Exiled, lives in the UK

Henry Atem

Cameroon

Executive Director at “U.S. International Center for Electoral Support” and UNAMA News

Not exiled, Lives in the US

Mesud Gebeyehu Reta

Ethiopia

Executive Director, Consortium of Ethiopian Human Rights Organizations (CEHRO)

Not Exiled, Lives in Ethiopia

Andréa Ngombet

Republic of Congo

Founder of the Sassoufit Collective/Author/Human rights and democracy advocate

Exiled, Lives in France

William Amanzuru

Uganda

Environmental and human rights defender and team leader at Friends of ZOKA

Not exiled, lives in Uganda

Carine Kanimba

Rwanda

Public Speaker and Human Rights Advocate

Lives in the US

Anaise Kanimba

Rwanda

Public Speaker/AdvocateSenior Associate Ridgely Walsh, LLC

Lives in the US

Thulani Maseko

Swaziland

Human rights lawyer

Exiled

Farida Nabourema

Togo

Writer/Founder “Faure Must Go”

Exiled, moves from country to country

Tut Riek Jikany

South Sudan

Opposition Leader, Representative

Lives in the US

Jongkor Mayol

South Sudan

Chairman/Social Justice Advocate at Sudanese Community

Exiled, Lives in the US

Peter Biar Ajak

South Sudan

Peace activist/scholar/former political prisoner

Exiled, Lives in the US

Hager Eissa

Sudan

Activist, Public Speaker and Ambassador at Global peace Chain

Exiled, Lives in the UK

Benjamin Wani

South Sudan

Human Rights/Pro Democracy Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in South Sudan

Diing Deng Mou Aguer

South Sudan

Activist

Exiled, Lives in Kenya

Meron Estefanos

Eritrea

Journalist and Human Rights Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in Eritrea

Mabor Tut

South Sudan

President of the Red Card Movement RCM

Exiled, Lives in Australia

Mohamed Nagi Alassam

Sudan

Doctor/pro-democracy activist

Not Exiled, Lives in Sudan

Vanessa Tsehaye

Eritrea/Sweden

Human Rights Activist

Lives in the UK

Leyla Hussein

Somalia

Psychotherapist, and Social Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in the UK

Maximilienne Ngo Mbe

Cameroon

Human Rights Campaigner

Not Exiled, Lives in Cameroon

Fred Bauma

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Pro-Democracy Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in DRC

Carbone Beni

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Pro-Democracy Activist, Human Rights Defender

Not Exiled, Lives in DRC

Rafael Marques de Morais

Angola

Journalist, Anti-Corruption Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in Angola

Zitto Kabwe

Tanzania

Politician, Opposition Leader

Not Exiled, Lives in Tanzania

Pierre Claver Mbonimpa

Burundi

Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in Belgium

Tendai Biti

Zimbabwe

Former Minister of Finance of Zimbabwe

Not Exiled, Lives in Zimbabwe

Bob Rugurika

Burundi

Investigative Journalist and Human Rights Defender

Exiled

Scovia Arinaitwe

Uganda

HRD & Rapid Response Coordinator

Not Exiled, Lives in Uganda

Gladys Hlatywayo

Zimbabwe

Secretary for International Relations for Citizens’ Coalition for Change

Not Exiled, Lives in Zimbabwe

Abdalla Hamdok

Sudan

Former Prime Minister

Lives in Sudan

Omer Ismail

Sudan

Politician

Not Exiled, Lives in Sudan

Bobi Wine

Uganda

Politician, Singer, Actor

Not Exiled, Lives in Uganda

David Lewis

Uganda

Attorney, Human Rights Activist, General Secretary of National Unity Platform (NUP)

Not Exiled, Lives in Uganda

Beatrice Ndefon

Cameroon

Leader in the Health Care Sector

Not exiled, Lives in Cameroon 

Felix Agbor Nkongho Balla

Cameroon

Human rights lawyer

Exiled, Lives in the US

Garry Kasparov

Russia

Chess Champion and Pro-democracy activist

Exiled

Anastasia Shevchenko

Russia

Public figure and civil activist/ Journalist

Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Andréi Sánnikov

Belarus

Politician/Activist

Exiled, Lives in Poland

Natalya Radina

Belarus

Journalist/Democratic activist

Exiled, Lives in Poland

Fedor Krasheninnikov

Russia

Journalist/political analyst

Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Ivan Tyutrin

Russia

Member of the standing committee of the Free Russia Forum/mentor of the Regional Activist Network Program

Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Aliaksandr Azarau

Belarus

Exiled, Lives in Poland

Lyudmyla Kozlovska

Ukraine

Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in Belgium

Daniil Konstantinov

Russia

Politician, lawyer, Pro-Democracy activist

Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Mariya Soroka

Ukraine

Activist, Co-Founder of Razom

Not Exiled, Lives in the US

Natalia Kaliada

Belarus

Co-founder and artistic director of Belarus Free Theatre

Exiled, Lives in the UK

Yury Terekhov

Russia

Writer, Opposition Leader

Lives in Lithuania

Dmitry Gudkov

Russia

Politician, Opposition Leader

Exiled

Anna Chekhovich

Russia

Activist

Sergei Davidis

Russia

Head of the “Political Prisoners Support Memorial” Project, Co-chair of the “Memorial” Human
Rights Defense Center

Not Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Volha Kavalkova

Belarus

Politician, Lawyer, Activist, Dissident

Exiled, Lives in Poland

Elena Kotenochkina

Russia

Head of the Krasnoselsky municipal district

Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Leopoldo López

Venezuela

Founder, Voluntad Popular

Exiled, Lives in Spain

Yoani Sanchez

Cuba

Blogger, Programmer

Not exiled, Lives in Cuba

María Laura Alvarado

Nicaragua

Member of the political council of the Unidad Nacional Azul y Blanco

Not exiled, Lives in Nicaragua

Kitty Monterrey

Nicaragua

President of the Citizens for Liberty Party

Exiled, Lives in Costa Rica

Carolina Barrero

Cuba

Art Historian and Activist

Not exiled, Lives in Cuba

Manuel Cuesta Morúa

Cuba

Founder of Progressivist Arc

Not exiled, Lives in Cuba

Ariel Ruiz Urquiola

Cuba

Environmentalist, biologist, and Breast Cancer/LGBTQ+ activist

Lives in Switzerland

Santiago Urbina

Nicaragua

Journalist/Activist for freedom in Nicaragua

Exiled, Lives in Spain

Victoria Cardenas

Nicaragua

Activist and Businesswoman

Exiled

Berta Valle

Nicaragua

Television Presenter / Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in the US

Laritza Diversent

Cuba

Journalist/Lawyer

Exiled, Lives in the US

Pablo Díaz Espí

Cuba

Journalist/Podcaster

Exiled, Lives between Spain, Germany, the US

Tania Bruguera

Cuba

Artist/Performer

Not Exiled, Lives in Cuba and the US

Rosa María Payá

Cuba

Activist for freedom and human rights

Not Exiled, Lives in the US

Jorge “Tuto” Quiroga

Bolivia

Industrial engineer and politician/served as the 62nd president of Bolivia from 2001 to 2002.

Exiled, Lives in the UK

Jhanisse Vaca-Daza

Bolivia

Activism Outreach Specialist in HRF as well as Manager of the Freedom Fellowship Program

Lives in Bolivia

Iliana Hernandez Cardoza

Cuba

Somos+ Movement Founder

Not exiled, Lives in Cuba

Carolina Ribera Áñez

Bolivia

Dentist, Lawyer, Human Rights Defender, Democracy Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in Bolivia

Carlos Vecchio

Venezuela

Ambassador of Venezuela to the United States for the Interim Government of Juan Guaidó

Exiled, Lives in the US

Mario Félix Lleonart

Cuba

Priest, Pro-Democracy Activist

Exiled, Lives in the US

Yoaxis Marcheco

Cuba

Human Rights Activis

Exiled, Lives in USA

Tamara Adrián

Venezuela

Politician

Not Exiled, Lives in Venezuela

Ana Rosario Contreras

Venezuela

Nurse, Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in Venezuela

Freddy Guevara

Venezuela

Politician

Exiled, Lives in USA

Génesis Dávila

Venezuela

Human Rights Lawyer

Exiled, Lives in the US

Isadora Zubillaga

Venezuela

Diplomat, Activist

Exiled, Lives in Spain

Evelyn Pinto Diaz

Venezuela

Pro-Democracy and Human Rights Activist

Not Exiled, Lives in Venezuela

Alejandro Cajas

Cuba

Public Servant, Non-Profit Manager

Lives in Chile

Jorge Masetti

Cuba

Journalist and Writer

Exiled, Lives in France

Alonso Moleiro

Venezuela

Journalist, Commentator, Writer

Lives in Venezuela

Yunior García

Cuba

Playwright, Activist

Exiled, Lives in Spain

Rosalia Miller

Nicaragua

Human Rights Activist, President of Nicaragua Freedom Coalition

Lives in the US

Victor Navarro

Venezuela

Journalist and Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in Argentina

Teng Biao

China

Lecturer at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing/ Human rights activists

Exiled, lives in the US

Timothy Cho

North Korea

Human Rights activist/Inquiry Clerk at the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea

Exiled, lives in the UK

Zhou Fengsuo

China

Student leader during the Tiananmen Square protests

Exiled, Lives in the US

Mehmet Tohti

Uyghur

Executive Director at Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project

Exiled, Lives in Canada

Dolkun Isa

Uyghur

Uyghur politician/activist/Current president of the World Uyghur Congress

Exiled

Joey Siu

Hong Kong

Human Rights Advocate

Exiled, Lives in the US

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit

Thailand

Politician

Not Exiled, Lives in Thailand

Wu’er Kaixi

China

Former Tiananmen Student Leader, General Secretary of Taiwan Parliamentary Human Rights Commission

Exiled, Lives in Taiwan

Dorjee Tseten

Tibet

Member of Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile

Exiled, Lives in India

Jianli Yang

China

Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in the US

Carmen Lau

Hong Kong

Lawyer, Pro-Democracy Activist

Exiled, Lives in UK

Timothy Lee

Hong Kong

Non-affiliated Hong Kong pro-democracy activist

Exiled, Lives in the UK

Wai Hnin Pwint Thon

Burma

Human Rights Activist

Exiled, Lives in the UK

Chemi Lhamo

Tibet

Activist, Community Organizer

Exiled, Lives in Canada

Me Me Khant

Burma

Human Rights and Pro-Democracy Activist

Exiled, Lives in the US

Omer Kanat

Uyghur

Executive Director of Uyghur Human Rights Project

Exiled, Lives in the US

Nury Turkel

Uyghur

Chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom

Exiled, Lives in the US

Iverson Ng

Hong Kong

Columnist at Estonian Newspaper Postimees

Not Exiled, Lives in Hong Kong

Chiang Min-Yen

Taiwan

Journalist

Not Exiled, Lives in Taiwan

Belabbés Benkredda

Germany

Writer/Television Commentator/ Government Consultant

Exiled, Lives in Lithuania

Nikola Ilic

Serbia

Social Entrepreneur, Activist, Founder/CEO of ChangeLab Global

Lives in the US

We are building the Congress as a legitimate and democratic institution with shared principles and mission, representation of all countries under autocratic regimes and clear governance structure.
The Congress will meet every year for the annual General Assembly with the intention to become an alternative voice to autocratic regimes.