Navalny was an internationally recognised anti-corruption activist and political opponent of Russian Vladimir Putin, encouraging rebellion throughout the country. He was infamous for investigations into the Russian government, including the viral video about Putin’s one-billion-dollar palace on the Black Sea. His undaunted ability to speak truth to power made him a beacon of hope for many Russians living under the regime.
Putin has historically responded violently to criticism of his tyranny, mobilizing KGB agents and chemical weapons to silence his opposition. Just last year Yevgeny Prizoghin, who led a mutiny against Moscow using his private army, was mysteriously killed in a plane crash. Still on the minds of the British public, the notorious 2018 Salisbury poisonings, using the nerve agent Novichok, flaunted the dangers of the Russian secret service. Conspicuously, in 2020 Navalny was also poisoned using this same nerve agent.
After recovering in Germany, Navalny made the surprising decision to return to Russia, where he was immediately arrested on charges of extremism and conspiracy. His oppositional group, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, had been labelled a radical organisation and was subsequently liquidated. Navalny then spent the next years in ‘Polar Wolf’, a Siberian Penal Colony where he was subjected to hard labour, at least 300 days of solitary confinement and sleep deprivation. At 14.17 February 16th local time, Navalny was reported dead. The guards claim that he took a short walk, where he then collapsed and could not be resuscitated.
Shortly before his arrest, Navalny released a video encouraging his supporters to continue his work “if they kill me”. He clearly expresses fears of assassination. Whilst no statement has been released by the Kremlin claiming responsibility for his death, many are suspicious about the long week it took to release his remains to his mother, and the severe insistence that she sign on death by natural causes for the death certificate.
World leaders have since spoken out in support of Navalny, with President Biden stating, “Putin is responsible”, and UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron arguing that “there should be consequences”. Whilst Putin is clearly held guilty on the world stage, there will be no consequences for him in his home country.
Navalny’s supporters have attempted to commemorate his legacy with street demonstrations and statues, but this has been met with harsh retaliation by the Russian state police. Flowers have been removed from St Petersburg, statues torn down and supporters arrested across the past week.
Russia is clearly intent on not allowing Navalny martyrdom in his death, and wants him removed permanently as the figurehead of the revolution. Yet his supporters have shown that, in accordance with his wishes, they will not let the loss of their leader stop the movement. Alexei Navalny succeeded in creating something larger than his own life, a force for justice in Russia and a legacy of strength.
