Washington, DC – The International Republican Institute (IRI) released the following statement at the start of the Summit for Democracy 2023:

“The International Republican Institute (IRI) welcomes the convening of this year’s Summit for Democracy as the struggle for freedom around the world has never been more important. Over the last year we have witnessed the horrors of Vladimir Putin’s evil and unjust war in Ukraine, Xi Jinping’s aggressive consolidation of power, Tehran’s violent crackdowns on peaceful protestors across Iran, and many other acts of tyrannical oppression from foreign despots.

“Dictators on each continent constitute an axis of authoritarianism that threatens the livelihoods of free people everywhere. Therefore, it is important to remember that the success of this Summit must not be judged by the ideas exchanged over the next three days, but by the concrete actions that are subsequently taken to check authoritarian expansion and restore democratic momentum.

“At IRI, we look forward to continuing our work with our partners to develop political parties and other core institutions of democracy, empower women and youth, fight corruption, and strengthen civil society as we seek to advance democracy worldwide.”

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