Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, spent his final months in prison with remarkable resilience, ambition, and isolation. Despite harsh conditions, he remained undeterred in pursuing knowledge and political activism.
What Happened: The New York Times on Monday reported that Navalny, who died in prison under mysterious circumstances, spent his last months in solitary confinement, his body suffering from lack of medical and dental care.
Despite these conditions, Navalny’s letters to friends and associates reveal a man who remained resolute in his political convictions and ambitions. He reportedly read 44 English books in a year and continued to prepare for the future, refining his political agenda and engaging in intellectual debates.
Navalny’s public messages, including his description of his prison term as a “space voyage,” highlighted his unwavering spirit. Thanks to a brief period of digitalization in the Russian prison system, he could communicate with the outside world through handwritten letters.
In his last letter, received in September. Navalny hoped that Russia could follow suit with South Korea and Taiwan, which were able to make the transition from dictatorship to democracy.
Why It Matters: Navalny, a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in prison under mysterious circumstances. His death has sparked international outrage and renewed attention on the state of political dissent and human rights in Russia.
Navalny’s death came amid a backdrop of political unrest and protests in Russia. Over 400 people were detained following his death, marking the most extensive wave of arrests at political events in Russia since September 2022, when over 1,300 individuals were arrested at demonstrations against a “partial mobilization” of reservists for Putin’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Navalny’s death also brought attention to his message for the Russian people in the event of his untimely death. In a documentary released in 2022, Navalny asserted, “If they decide to kill me, we are incredibly strong. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. So don’t be inactive.”
Image by Rosfoto.ru via Shutterstock
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