Russian rebels have voted for a Revolution Act as opposition forces warn Vladimir Putin has dragged the country to the brink of civil war.
Andrey Sidelnikov has a long history within Russian politics, having been one of the leaders of Boris Berezovsky’s Liberal Party before helping found the Union of Right Forces in 1999.
He is now a vocal member of opposition against Vladimir Putin and has warned the only way to remove the Kremlin leader is through violence.
Mr Sidelnikov also said that Putin has “brought the country to the brink of disintegration and civil war”.
Now he is a member of the Executive Council of the Congress of the People’s Deputies (CPD), a political forum of anti-Putin politicians determined to overthrow the Russian leader’s regime that met on eve of the anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to the Daily Express, he said: "I am not going to deceive anyone. A transfer of power in Russia cannot be achieved peacefully in any circumstances.
"And the reason for that is 23 years of Putin's policies. Only through the use of force can anything be changed.
"Putin has not only led Russia to war and made the country a threat to the whole world. He has brought the country to the brink of disintegration and civil war.
"And if it is true that today we don't yet have the ability to forcibly change the leadership, then preparations towards that end have already started."
This comes as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine recently passed the one year anniversary since it first began.
The desperate grab from Putin was reportedly intended to be a lightning invasion that would see them seize the capital Kyiv within weeks.
Instead, Russia’s forces find themselves stuck in a gruelling war with Ukrainian forces across the east of the country.
Speaking at the latest CPD conference in Warsaw last week, Mr Sidelniov, a former associate of the ex-KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko who was poisoned in London in 2006, was one of those who voted for the Revolutionary Act.
This calls for the dissolution of the Russian Federation, and removal of all powers from Putin and his government institutions.
Whilst toothless, the vote is a powerful symbolic move from a group of largely formerly elected politicians who garnered millions of votes during their time.
Mr Sidelnikov also stressed that fears of Russia’s break up, following the collapse of Putin’s regime, were not over exaggerated.
But he argued that his congress could help limit the inevitable political chaos under such circumstances.
He claimed "After the break-up of Russia ... and a break-up will happen ... it will be vital to return what remains [of this large territory] and Russian citizens to the civilised world community.
"It is essential to have a legal basis for the transitional period. The Congress is a unique platform that gives us the possibility to avoid the chaos that could break out in the country at the moment of the transfer of power."
He also alleged that fighters from the Freedom of Russia Legion would play a key role in overthrowing Putin.
The group is made up of Russian nationals and he claimed some were fighting on the frontline in Ukraine.
