Navalny’s Last Message
“You’re not allowed to give up.” These were the poignant words of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny in a 2022 documentary by Canadian director Daniel Roher, where he spoke about his political ideals and surviving a purported poisoning attack. Navalny emphasized the need for his supporters to stay strong in the face of adversity.
Navalny’s Controversial Death
Russian prison authorities reported Navalny’s death after he collapsed while on a walk at the IK-3 penal colony in Russia’s far north. While his own team expressed doubts about the official account, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris placed the blame squarely on Putin’s government, calling it a “further sign of Putin’s brutality.”
Global Condemnation
Navalny’s wife, Yulia, denounced the Russian government’s actions, stating, “I want to call on the entire world community to unite together and defeat this evil, to defeat the terrifying regime that is now in Russia.” The global community has condemned Russia not only for Navalny’s death but also for its invasion of Ukraine and the crackdown on dissent that followed.
Crackdown on Dissent
Russia’s harsh new laws in the name of national security have significantly curbed free speech, with hundreds of politicians, activists, journalists, and civil society figures facing imprisonment or exile. Street protests without government permission are deemed illegal, further stifling opposition voices.