racist remarks, nationalism and conservative positions… The other face of the Russian opponent

The first opponent of Vladimir Putin, who died on Friday, sometimes made controversial comments from an ideological point of view.

Series of tributes to Alexeï Navalny, since the announcement of the death of the Russian opponent, Friday February 16. “Courage makes man”, according to MEP Raphaël Glucksmann. “Honor his resistance”writes Jean-Luc Mélenchon on X. Marine Le Pen presents her condolences to the family of a political activist “committed to the defense of democracy”. But Alexeï Navalny has also made controversial statements.

In 2007, in a clip for the Russian National Liberation Movement, which he had just founded, we see Alexeï Navalny in a white coat, in a dentist’s office. Images of migrants appear on the screen, interspersed with x-rays of dental caries. “In that casehe says to the camera, I recommend complete disinfection. Everything that stands in our way must be eliminated by deportation.”

Chechen Muslim minority compared to cockroaches

What follows is a montage with migrants at the airport, then a plane taking off. One of Alexeï Navalny’s advisors assured years later that the activist regretted this video. In another, still for his movement, he compares the Chechen Muslim minority to cockroaches, before shooting a man throwing himself at him, shouting “God is great”.

In clips dating from the end of the 2000s, when Alexeï Navalny defined himself as “national democrat”, we see him participating in marches bringing together Russian nationalists. Before changing his tune and focusing his attacks on the Kremlin, starting in 2011, the year he created the Anti-Corruption Foundation.

But Alexeï Navalny keeps some of his conservative positions. In 2013, he made the fight against illegal immigration his campaign theme for the municipal elections in Moscow, which he lost. It offers a visa system for citizens of the countries of the former USSR, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, wanting to settle in Russia.