The experience of Zhytomyr’s Citizens’ Assembly at a conference in Brussels

On 13–14 October 2025, Brussels (Belgium) hosted the annual meeting of the world’s largest network dedicated to deliberative democracy — Democracy R&D. The event brought together more than 270 participants from 55 countries, including representatives of civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international bodies. It is the key event of the year for everyone working on citizen participation in decision-making and democratic innovation. The KSE Center for Democratic Resilience became a member of the network following an invitation from BRIDGE partners at TU Berlin in July 2025.

The Ukrainian–German team of researchers presented their work: Oleksandra Keudel (KSE),  Kerstin Lücker, and Professor Hans-Liudger Dienel (TU Berlin). They introduced the international community to the Citizens’ Assembly model, which the BRIDGE project team developed in collaboration with the Zhytomyr city authorities to create a sustainable mobility strategy. 

One could hardly imagine a better venue for the presentation, as the audience brought together experts in deliberative democracy from around the world. The meeting also provided a great opportunity to reconnect with members of the BRIDGE Advisory Board, including Paulina Pospieszna and Graham Smith, and to engage with representatives from other international partners.

Another important part of the visit was participation in a workshop on conducting citizens’ assemblies in democracies during wartime or in post-conflict contexts (Citizens’ Assemblies in Disturbed Democracies), organized by colleagues from the University of Sarajevo and DemNet (Foundation for Development of Democratic Rights). Kerstin and Oleksandra shared their experience of preparing a Citizens’ Assembly under martial law. The researchers spoke about how crucial it was to build trust and ensure transparency when working with the community so that residents would accept this format. To achieve this, the BRIDGE team organized an open call and information sessions in three regions of Ukraine for local self-government bodies interested in hosting a citizens’ assembly. Subsequently, in cooperation with the Zhytomyr City Council, they established an Advisory Council composed of local opinion leaders. To ensure the initiative reached as wide an audience as possible, both local media and outdoor advertising were engaged.

For many conference participants, it was a revelation that in Ukraine, during the active phase of the war, civilian life remains on the agenda, along with issues such as sustainable urban mobility. Some international colleagues were impressed that Ukrainians are not only defending themselves but are also thinking about the future of their cities.

Conference participants responded positively to the creation of an Advisory Council for the Citizens’ Assembly, describing it as an effective way to build trust within the community. The visit also provided an excellent opportunity to share the latest updates on the project’s activities with representatives of the European Commission and the Council of Europe. At the same time, it was a valuable opportunity to learn from and draw on international experience through panel discussions and workshops.

The BRIDGE project researchers returned home reassured that the Ukrainian example of democratic resilience is inspiring the world. Just one week after the conference, the Citizens’ Assembly in Zhytomyr officially began.