Alexei Navalny’s life mattered.
His life long struggles for justice and fair elections in Russia mattered.
The world famous Russian activist, lawyer and anti-corruption pioneer died on February 16, 2024 at the young age of 47.
And many of his supporters don’t believe for a second that Navalny “suddenly died” after coming in from a walk in the brutal Arctic Penal Colony prison where he was being held prisoner on fabricated charges. He was sentenced to 19 years.
According to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Navalny died of natural causes.
It’s no secret that Russia’s president Vladimir Putin viewed Navalny as a serious contender to the presidency and therefore wanted him “out of the picture” as several attempts were made on Navalny’s life to get him out of the way.
The most famous threat against Navalny’s life was made in August of 2020 when he was poisoned with the deadly Novichok nerve agent on a flight from Tomsk to Moscow.
The Kremlin denied the charges.
In 2017 Navalny was attacked outside in Anti-Corruption Foundation with a dangerous green dye that nearly blinded him in one eye.
Again, the Kremlin played dumb.
It’s no secret that Navalny’s message telling young people (and voters) in Russia to think about their freedom, was seen as a threat to the Kremin because Navalny wanted to bring fairness to Russian elections and giving voters an option in deciding their future leaders in Russia.
The more popular Navalny and his message got with the public and the young voters, the more his life was put in danger.
Despite being falsely arrested and imprisoned for fabricated charges, Navalny still maintained his strong following through social media campaigns including his popular YouTube Channel.
CNN did an excellent and must watch film on Navalny, his life, and the near death experience he had with being poisoned. Highly recommended folks!
It’s no surprise that Putin recently “won” his 6th term as Russia’s President, giving him controlling power once again over the country and its’ people.
It was expected.
Supporters around the world are sadden and shocked that Navalny died in the extremely harsh and diabolic conditions in the Arctic Penal Colony known as “Polar Wolf” where he was being held prisoner since December 2023 until his death on Feb. 16.
The Polar Wolf is where the most deadly criminals who have committed the most heinous crimes are sent. Navalny was kept among the most deadly criminals in Russia, something both his family and his supporters were vocal about.
Winter temperatures are known to go below -20C.
That’s torture in itself.
For many Russians Navalny’s death might bring a bit of loss of hope while for others, it is a strict reminder that going against or criticizing Putin could make life miserable as was the case of Navalny, whose fight for justice cost him his precious life.
I hope and pray that Navalny will never be forgotten nor will his work and mission be stalled.
His death was certainly not in vain as the famous Russian planted a seed of hope in the minds of millions of young Russian people about speaking up and fighting for what they believe in. It was Mahatma Gandhi who once said, “be the change you want to be in the world”, I believe Navalny succeeded in doing that.
The journey goes on and we must never forget Alexei Navalny nor his legacy in fighting for freedom.
Say his name.
0
