Alexei Navalny is dead. The day before, those who had seen him found him in good health, but emaciated. Yesterday he took a walk. Shortly after, he felt unwell and lost consciousness. After unsuccessful resuscitation maneuvers, the ambulance doctor pronounced him dead. This is the official version of his death. But who believes the Russian regime? Navalny was Vladimir Putin’s best-known opponent. The reactions in democratic countries were very strong. Putin has been condemned from all sides. Navalny’s case, however, is far from unique. Russia has at least 513 political prisoners.
1) Why did Putin find Navalny dangerous?
Navalny was very well known outside Russia, but less so in Russia, except for Muscovites, since in 2015 he came second in an election for mayor of Moscow. Younger Russians also know it, because Russian internet networks are still relatively free. In 2020, Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, a nerve poison developed in Russia. He was narrowly saved in Germany. What made Navalny worrying for Putin was that he had founded an anti-corruption organization in Russia in 2011. A very mobilizing cause among the electorate. In addition, at 47, Navalny risked outliving Putin. The organization founded by Navalny will be dissolved in 2021 and Putin will have Navalny charged with corruption.
2) Who are the other political prisoners in Russia?
Mémorial France, which is an organization supporting Russian opponents, lists two types of political prisoners in Russia. Some are imprisoned because they belong to religious groups or national minorities. The others committed non-violent political actions and are being prosecuted in court. Russian authorities preferably imprison those who are opinion leaders or those whose arrest could intimidate others who would like to take similar actions.
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3) What can lead to political imprisonment?
Mémorial France gives several examples of behavior which led Russians to prison. For example, a blogger from the northern Black Sea city of Krasnodar received a prison sentence of 8 1/2 years for publishing false news. The blogger denies publishing this false news and instead believes he was prosecuted for his corruption investigations. Two drunken men have been accused of advocating Nazism for urinating on a Russian monument to the glory of the war in Ukraine. Several Russians who publicly opposed this war were arrested, tortured and accused of supporting Nazism.
4) What could be the consequences of Navalny’s death in Russia?
The terror that reigns among the Russian population silences the vast majority of opponents of the Putin regime. It would be surprising if these opponents rose up.
5) What could be the consequences of Navalny’s death around the world?
Navalny’s death comes at a bad time for Putin. It will probably galvanize European mobilization against the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It could also help convince Republican representatives in Congress to vote for additional aid to Ukraine. Nobody likes bloodthirsty dictators. Navalny’s death draws attention to this terrible aspect of Putin’s dictatorship. A bloodthirsty side that Ukrainians know too well.