Alexei Navalny: He was probably the most famous political prisoner in Russia. About his death, he once said: “If they decide to kill me, then that means we are incredibly strong.” (picture alliance/dpa/TASS | Moscow City Court Press Service)
Alexei Navalny, like many Kremlin critics before him, paid for his fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin with his life – he died in a Siberian penal colony at the age of 47. What was initially only reported by Russian media has now been confirmed by a spokeswoman for Navalny. The Kremlin critic’s mother then traveled to the prison camp in northern Russia and received the news of his death there.
Navalny’s death caused consternation around the world. EU Council President Charles Michel said Navalny had made “the ultimate sacrifice” for his ideals. The US government also assigned the Russian leadership direct responsibility for the fate of the Kremlin critic. “Russia is responsible,” said Vice President Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference.
Navalny was arguably the country’s most famous political prisoner. He first came to attention in 2008 as an anti-corruption activist. He had bought shares in state-owned companies to make money.
But what bothered him was that he barely got any information about these companies. At general meetings he asked questions about opaque ownership structures and low dividends despite good business. He usually didn’t get answers – but that didn’t stop him from recording his findings in a blog.
Over the years, more and more people helped him investigate state-owned companies and their finances. Navalny’s supporters were motivated because in the background there was one of Russia’s biggest problems, which is closely linked to power: corruption.
Criminal and mafia power structures
Navalny went from being an individual to being a champion, raised donations online and also got into more and more trouble with the judiciary. His anti-corruption fund set up its own structures in many parts of the country. As he increasingly gained political influence and employees and supporters were successful in elections, the leadership in Moscow had the network dismantled and banned as “extremist”.
Leading members of Navalny’s team fled abroad. From their exile they continued the fight against what they saw as thoroughly criminal and mafia-like power structures. But Navalny stayed.
He wanted to wage the fight against the system within the country itself, and not from abroad. This is one of the reasons why he returned to Russia in January 2021 from Germany, where he had been treated at the Berlin Charité after an assassination attempt involving the nerve agent Novichok – even though he was threatened with imprisonment.
The Russian justice system has pursued Navalny harshly; he has been repeatedly convicted for various reasons. Despite his imprisonment, the opposition politician managed to address the public from prison camp 6 in Melechovo near the city of Kovrov, about 260 kilometers northeast of Moscow.
Navalny was recently the most important voice of the political opposition and was able to appeal primarily to young people who had nothing to do with the “grandpa in the bunker” (synonym for Putin). His most important message was: Don’t be afraid.
Harassment and torture
The father of the family repeatedly complained about the lack of medical help, harassment and even torture in the prison camp. From there he also repeatedly denounced Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Putin is steering Russia to ruin, warned Navalny. Putin himself tried to keep Navalny quiet for a long time; he didn’t even say his name publicly.
Navalny’s sentence was increased to a total of 19 years in prison at the last trial, which, like all the others before it, was considered politically staged. Further lawsuits threatened. They were intended to wear down Navalny and his supporters. His appearances at court proceedings have repeatedly caused horror because he was becoming increasingly weak and physically deteriorating.
Doctors appealed to Putin to ensure Navalny’s right to medical treatment as a guarantor of the constitution. Navalny’s wife Julia complained last year that she had not been allowed to speak to her husband on the phone for almost a year: “Letters are our last means of communication.” Recently, this was apparently no longer possible: neither letters nor other documents were being delivered to Navalny said his spokeswoman at the beginning of December.
In constant fear for Navalny’s life
His wife Julia and their two children have been in constant fear for Navalny’s life since he narrowly survived an attack using the chemical warfare agent Novichok in August 2020. Navalny called Putin a “murderer” and accused him of having commissioned a hit squad from the domestic intelligence service FSB. The Kremlin rejected this.
Navalny was aware that imprisonment in a prison camp, where many people die under unclear circumstances, is life-threatening. The many special punishments in solitary confinement in a two by three meter punishment cell visibly took a toll on him. Navalny’s team repeatedly accused the Kremlin of doing everything it could to eliminate Putin’s most important opponent. The warnings went unheeded. For a long time, the Russian opposition had high hopes that Putin would suffer a defeat in Ukraine and have to resign. But these hopes have not been fulfilled.
“Russia without Putin” campaign
Millions follow Navalny’s team on social networks, which also publishes current political news programs, commentaries and talk shows on YouTube. The “Russia without Putin” campaign recently began there with a view to the presidential election. Navalny had called for people to vote for any candidate – just not for Putin.
But the truth is also: There is currently no organized opposition in Russia. Opposition politicians are in prison or in exile. And the opposition in exile is divided; not everyone was able to unite behind Navalny.
Navalny’s death also has a psychological impact. It is another warning to all Kremlin critics in the country. And it also raises concerns about the other political prisoners in Putin’s hands.
The exact circumstances of his death are still unclear
The exact circumstances of Navalny’s death are still unclear. The 47-year-old “felt unwell” after walking outdoors and “almost immediately lost consciousness,” said the prison administration of the northern Yamalo-Nenets region. Medical personnel were called, but they were unable to revive Navalny. The cause of death is currently being determined.
About his death, Navalny once said in a CNN interview: “If they decide to kill me, then that means we are incredibly strong. We have to use this power and not give up.”