Alexei Navalny was one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s most outspoken critics, and it was his relentless opposition to the Russian president that led to his imprisonment and mysterious death. Known for his viral investigations into government corruption and his bold calls for political reform, Navalny’s activism made him a target of state-sponsored violence, drawing both international and Russian attention, and spotlighting the country’s descent into authoritarianism.
In 2020, according to the German government and its scientists, Navalny was poisoned with a nerve agent, an extremely toxic chemical, as he flew to Moscow. He survived but had to be hospitalized for a year in Germany. Once recovered, he returned to Russia and was immediately detained and sentenced to prison on charges of political defamation. Alexei Navalny was, and still is through his work, one of the most influential and powerful symbols of hope and resilience in the face of Russia’s oppressive regime.
Before his death, Navalny wrote letters from prison, not fighting for himself but for those who still suffered, convincing others of the courage they had by taking small actions. He showed no fear of what might happen to him and every letter made it clear he had no regrets about what he had done.
“Prison exists in your mind,” Navalny said. “And if you think carefully, I am not in prison but on a space voyage…to a wonderful new world.”
In one letter he explains how even one like on social media can make a difference. It might not seem like a lot, but he was proud that his people supported him and were doing what they could to support their country. But he didn’t stop where they did, not just with one like. He was the one who built movements to empower citizens because just one voice can make a world of difference; Navalny was that world. He was that world for his wife, his son and his daughter but didn’t want his influence to end with his family, he didn’t want it to end at all.
So, before his death, he made sure his book would be published. A biography about his commitment; to himself, his cause, his family and his country.
According to the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service, on Feb. 16, 2024, Navlany was pronounced dead at 47. Where they claim the death could have been caused by a blood clot, other doctors who have previously worked with Navalny argue the diagnosis. It’s no secret, at least to those outside Russia, that its government has a tendency to cover up many deaths of those who have openly opposed the government. Navalny’s case was no different.
But following his death, more people followed in his footsteps. Many led memorials in his honor and hundreds were detained just like him, yet carrying on his legacy.
A leader can bring people to good or to bad, and Navalny was someone who gave his life for that good. In a country where people’s mouths are sewn shut, he broke the stitches and spoke.
“If they decide to kill me, it means we are incredibly strong,” Navalny said. He later said, “Let’s not become a nation of frightened, silent people.”
Photo credit: “Alexei Navalny” by Duncan Cumming is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
