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Alexei Navalny, Fierce Putin Critic, Passes Away in Prison at 47: A Defiant Legacy.
Alexei Navalny, the prominent political opposition figure in Russia, has passed away at the age of 47 while being held in a remote prison in Russia.
The news of Navalny’s demise was announced on Friday by the Federal Penitentiary Service in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, located above the Arctic Circle.
According to a statement released by prison authorities, Navalny reported feeling unwell after a walk in the prison yard and subsequently lost consciousness. Despite the efforts of emergency medical personnel to revive him, their attempts proved unsuccessful.
Navalny had been serving a lengthy prison sentence on various charges, including extremism, which were widely perceived as a form of retribution for his extensive criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin has been notified about Navalny’s passing. Peskov mentioned that medical staff in the prison are currently investigating the cause of death.
Various responses flooded in globally following the news. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, expressed his thoughts on Navalny’s demise, stating that it highlights the flaws within Putin’s system and the fear surrounding one individual. Blinken held Russia accountable for the situation.
Concerns regarding Navalny’s well-being and safety during his time in prison had been ongoing.
His family and supporters claimed that authorities consistently refused Navalny medical attention and placed him in extended periods of solitary confinement to isolate him from the outside world. A representative from his Anti-Corruption Foundation in Washington, D.C., suspected in April that Navalny was being slowly poisoned while in prison.
Yet, a video circulated by Russia’s independent SOTA news service depicted Navalny appearing healthy and in good spirits during a court session the day before his passing. Navalny was attending the hearing remotely.
Navalny had been serving a 19-year prison term on charges of extremism, embezzlement, and fraud — widely believed to be Kremlin retaliation for his political endeavors.
Navalny has been a vocal opponent of President Putin for over ten years, gaining popularity nationwide by addressing public anger towards government corruption and advocating for a better future for Russians. Despite being imprisoned, he continued to speak out against Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Putin’s authoritarian governance. Prior to his sudden disappearance in December, Navalny launched a movement to mobilize Russians against Putin’s potential fifth presidential term in the upcoming March elections.
Unveiling a new vocal opposition.
Navalny, born on June 4, 1976, in a rural area near Moscow, initially gained recognition as a lawyer advocating for shareholder revolts within Russia’s corrupt state-owned enterprises. Subsequently, he became a prominent figure in the anti-government demonstrations, known for his compelling oratory denouncing the fraudulent parliamentary elections in 2011 and famously dubbing the ruling United Russia party as “the party of crooks and thieves.”
Putin’s firm control over Russian politics was evident in the crackdown on protesters that ensued, demonstrating his unwavering determination. Meanwhile, the Kremlin maintained a level of political competition, albeit under its management.
In 2013, Navalny, despite facing an embezzlement conviction believed to be a ploy by the Kremlin to diminish his popularity, was permitted to participate in the mayoral race in Moscow. Remarkably, he secured the second position, almost pushing the race into a runoff against the candidate favored by the Kremlin. This achievement was attributed to his energetic grassroots campaign.
The Kremlin opted for a more cautious approach when Navalny attempted to contest Putin for the presidency in 2018. Although a court deemed him ineligible, Navalny persisted with an alternative campaign strategy, establishing offices across the country and articulating his political aspirations.
During an interview with NPR, Navalny expressed his desire to reside in a country that embodies normalcy, rejecting any notion of Russia being destined to be a negative, impoverished, or subservient nation. He emphasized his inability to tolerate the prevailing injustice that has become a routine experience for many individuals.
An alternative to Putin.
Navalny’s informal demeanor, shaped by his internet-driven sense of humor, stood in stark contrast to Putin’s authoritative demeanor, even when he was not actively involved in politics.
Navalny had a penchant for incorporating quotes from his favorite shows, such as the animated series Rick and Morty or HBO’s The Wire, into his speeches.
In his videos, Navalny would often begin with his signature greeting, “Hey, it’s Navalny!”, before launching into his critiques of Putin.
It was an indication of the stark contrast between the two individuals — and Navalny, according to his supporters, posed a threat. This was the case even if Navalny was not permitted to participate in elections.
Putin tapped into the grievances of older Russians regarding the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Navalny, on the other hand, tapped into the aspirations of the younger generation who believed that Russia could break free from its oppressive Soviet past.
Putin, famously, attempted to diminish Navalny’s popularity by refusing to mention his name in public — a stance that Navalny humorously mocked in his Instagram bio with phrases like “Aforementioned person, Other politician, Various activist, This gentleman, Characters that were mentioned.”
These phrases were Putin’s way of avoiding directly pronouncing Navalny’s name.
However, Navalny faced criticism not only from the Kremlin but also from other detractors. In the early stages of his political career, he actively participated in Russian nationalist movements, arguing that their support was crucial for the opposition’s chances of success.
Certain Russian liberals never forgave him, and state media branded him as a “fascist.”
Leveraging the power of social media.
Navalny utilized social media, particularly YouTube, to spread his political message after being banned from national television in Russia.
In 2011, Navalny founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation, where he collaborated with a group of skilled Russians who delved into public records and sometimes even the dark web to uncover instances of corruption among Russia’s top officials.
Navalny spearheaded investigations that criticized ministers for showcasing lavish lifestyles that were inconsistent with their reported incomes, such as using government aircraft to transport pet corgis to dog shows.
His most viral video, released in 2021, exposed a secret palace on the Black Sea that Navalny alleged was constructed by Putin at a cost exceeding $1 billion.
As the viewership of his videos surpassed 100 million, a wealthy oligarch with ties to the Kremlin came forward claiming he had purchased the property as an investment.
While Navalny’s following continued to expand, so did the number of adversaries he faced within the Russian elite.
The Menace of Novichok: A Closer Look at the Threats.
Throughout the years, Navalny has spearheaded numerous nationwide protests against Putin and the corruption within the Kremlin. As a result, he and his supporters have faced numerous arrests, with him alone being detained 15 times in 2011.
However, as Navalny’s popularity grew, especially among younger Russians, so did the threats to his safety.
In May 2017, an assailant targeted him with a chemical substance that almost caused him to lose vision in one eye.
Then, in August 2020, Navalny suddenly collapsed during a flight from Siberia to Moscow. He was later transported to Germany while in a coma for medical treatment, where doctors discovered traces of the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok in his bloodstream.
During his recovery over several months, Navalny collaborated with journalists to investigate the attack, creating yet another sensation.
Navalny managed to deceive one of the potential assassins into confessing that he had been instructed, as part of a team from Russia’s security service, to apply the poison to Navalny’s underwear.
Navalny claimed that the incident could have only occurred under the direction of President Putin.
The Kremlin flatly rejected the accusation, claiming implausibly that the assault was orchestrated.
In the meantime, the authorities revived a previous fraud conviction against Navalny, accusing him of breaching his probation while recovering in a foreign hospital.
This action seemed to be a ploy to compel Navalny to stay in exile. Nevertheless, Navalny was determined to come back to Russia regardless.
Uncompromising in offering criticism until the end.
Upon his return to Russia in January 2021, Navalny was promptly apprehended, sparking a fresh wave of protests throughout the nation.
In a trial that followed, Navalny received a swift 2 1/2-year sentence for violating his parole. During this trial, Navalny famously referred to Putin as “Vladimir the Poisoner of Underpants” and asserted that his imprisonment was a deliberate tactic to intimidate the public.
In the midst of the trial, Navalny expressed his belief that it is impossible to imprison millions and hundreds of thousands of people. He expressed hope that more individuals would come to realize this, leading to the eventual collapse of the entire system, as it is simply unfeasible to lock up an entire country.
In 2022, another trial regarding fraud resulted in a concurrent sentence of nine years being added.
Simultaneously, the authorities took action to dismantle Navalny’s political network, branding the Anti-Corruption Foundation and its members as “extremist.” Numerous associates were apprehended, while the remaining individuals either went into hiding or fled to other countries.
However, even while incarcerated, Navalny maintained a significant political presence.
Internationally, the attention towards his predicament continued to escalate. In 2021, he was honored with a prestigious European human rights prize, and this year, a documentary titled Navalny won an Oscar, shedding further light on his story.
As Russia initiated its assault on Ukraine in February 2022, Navalny persistently criticized Putin, portraying him as a deranged individual waging a futile and senseless war that he would ultimately be defeated in.
Navalny emphasized the urgent need to rescue our suffering and drained Motherland. He highlighted the devastation caused by aggressive warfare and corrupt leaders, turning the nation into a prison. Despite the risks, he encouraged his followers to resist the invasion and speak out against injustice, believing that change is possible if more Russians join the dissent.
Navalny’s unwavering vision for a better Russia, though seemingly unattainable in a climate of oppression and fear, remains a powerful reminder of hope for the future. His family, including wife Yulia Navalnaya, brother Oleg, daughter Daria, and son Zakhar, continue to carry on his legacy.
