Alexei Navalny, Russia’s most prominent political opposition figure, has passed away in a remote Russian prison at the age of 47.
On Friday, it was revealed by prison officials in a chilly region above the Arctic Circle that Navalny had died. They reported that he had become unwell after a walk and subsequently lost consciousness. Despite attempts to revive him, they were unsuccessful.
Navalny was imprisoned for a long time due to his criticism of Putin. Many believed the charges, including extremism, were just a way to silence him for speaking out.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin has been informed of Navalny’s death. Prison medical staff are investigating the cause of death.
Reactions poured in swiftly from around the world. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken remarked that Navalny’s death in a Russian prison underscores the flaws in Putin’s system, holding Russia responsible for the tragedy.
Concerns about Navalny’s well-being and safety in prison had been present for an extended period.
Navalny’s family and supporters have voiced concerns that authorities consistently denied him medical care and subjected him to prolonged periods of solitary confinement, possibly to isolate him from the outside world. In April, a representative from his Anti-Corruption Foundation in Washington, D.C., expressed fears that Navalny may have been slowly poisoned while in prison.
A video from Russia’s independent SOTA news service depicted Navalny appearing healthy and in good spirits during a court hearing the day before his death. He participated remotely.
Navalny had been serving a 19-year prison sentence for charges such as extremism, embezzlement, and fraud. These charges were widely viewed as retaliation from the Kremlin for his political activities.
Navalny had been a vocal critic of President Putin for over a decade. He gained widespread support by leading campaigns against government corruption and advocating for a better future for Russians.
Even while in prison, Navalny continued to denounce Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Putin’s authoritarian rule.
Just before his disappearance in December, Navalny initiated a campaign to unite Russians against Putin’s potential fifth term as president in the scheduled March elections.
Alexei Navalny, new voice of opposition in Russia.
Navalny was born on June 4, 1976, in a village near Moscow. He gained recognition as a lawyer, becoming known for his attempts to incite shareholder revolts in corrupt state-owned Russian companies.
He rose as a significant figure in protests against the government, admired for his strong speeches. During the 2011 protests against unfair elections, he famously dubbed the ruling United Russia bloc “the party of crooks and thieves.”
The government’s crackdown on protesters highlighted Putin’s commitment to maintaining control over Russian politics, despite some level of political competition being allowed.
Navalny ran for mayor of Moscow in 2013 despite facing charges seen as a Kremlin attempt to hinder him. He nearly forced a runoff with the Kremlin’s candidate, coming second thanks to a vigorous campaign.
In 2018, Navalny aimed to challenge Putin for the presidency, but the Kremlin blocked his candidacy in court. Still, Navalny persisted, launching a nationwide campaign and sharing his vision for a better country.
“I want to live in a normal country, not one that’s bad or poor,” Navalny told NPR in an interview.
An alternative to Putin.
Navalny’s relaxed demeanor, shaped by internet culture, contrasted sharply with Putin’s formal manner. He often incorporated quotes from popular shows like Rick and Morty or The Wire into his speeches. In his videos, he would often begin with “Hey, it’s Navalny!” before launching into criticism of Putin. These differences highlighted why Navalny and his supporters viewed him as a threat to Putin, despite being barred from running in elections.
Putin connected with older Russians who were discontent with the Soviet Union’s collapse, while Navalny represented younger Russians eager to move beyond Russia’s Soviet past.
Putin avoided mentioning Navalny’s name in public, but Navalny humorously referred to this on his Instagram bio. He used phrases like “aforementioned person” to poke fun at Putin’s avoidance.
Despite facing criticism, including accusations of being a “fascist” from some Russian liberals, Navalny believed collaborating with Russian nationalists was essential for the opposition’s success.
Navalny’s legal issues and threats.
Over time, Navalny organized numerous protests across Russia against Putin and government corruption. He faced frequent arrests, including 15 times in 2011 alone.
Despite his popularity, particularly among young Russians, Navalny encountered serious dangers. In 2017, he was attacked with a chemical, and in 2020, he fell ill on a flight and was discovered to have been poisoned with Novichok.
After recovering, Navalny collaborated with journalists to uncover details of the attack. He managed to obtain a confession from one of the alleged attackers.
Navalny accused Putin of orchestrating the attack, but the Kremlin denied involvement. Despite facing legal issues and threats, Navalny remained determined to return to Russia.
Navalny’s vision for a free and prosperous Russia faced obstacles.
Upon his return to Russia in 2021, Navalny’s arrest sparked protests. He received a 2 1/2-year sentence for parole violations, famously calling Putin “Vladimir the Poisoner of Underpants.” Navalny hoped people would recognize their collective power.
In a separate 2022 fraud trial, he was sentenced to an additional nine years. Authorities also targeted his political network, labeling it “extremist” and arresting many associates.
Despite being in jail, Navalny remained in the spotlight, winning a European human rights prize in 2021 and having a documentary about him win an Oscar in 2022.
As Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, Navalny criticized Putin and urged his supporters to speak out, believing change was possible if more Russians opposed injustice.
Navalny’s vision for a free and prosperous Russia faced obstacles in an era marked by oppression. He called it “the happy Russia of the future.”