The Death of Alexei Navalny

On February 16, 2024, 47-year-old Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny passed away in a remote Arctic penal colony in the city of Kharp, Russia, after 3 years in prison.  According to the Russian government, Navalny died of “sudden death syndrome” after he fell ill during a walk in the freezing weather. Is it true? Agnés Callamard, the secretary general of Amnesty International, a leading human rights group, is among many who believe that the Russian authorities caused Navalny’s death. This wouldn’t be the first attempt, as Russia already tried poisoning him in 2020. 

During his time in jail, Navalny faced inhumane treatment, from spending time in freezing punishment cells to being denied access to medical care. Prison authorities used cruel methods to try and break the spirit of Navalny for years, such as limiting family visits, restricting human contact and communication with other prisoners or his lawyers, and giving humiliating punishments for minor infringements. 

Furthermore, when Navalny died, some of his allies say he was within a few days of being freed in a prisoner swap between Russia, the United States and Germany. Many of his supporters think that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his establishment could not tolerate the thought of him being released and opted to kill him instead.

Why did the Kremlin hate Navalny so much? Navalny was the most talented Russian opposition leader and communicator of his generation. He was a brave, committed opponent of Putin’s regime and started a foundation to publish investigations into corruption and bribery among Russian politicians and elites. He organized anti-government demonstrations and ran for office to create a better Russia and to eliminate corruption. His voice was very popular across the younger generations in Russia. 

However, Navalny is not the only person to have experienced political persecution in Russia. There are almost 700 political prisoners in Russia who are at risk of a fate like Navalny’s. One of these people is Vladimir Kara-Murza, sentenced to 25 years in prison for speaking out against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Putin’s Russia rules with an iron fist, not allowing room for political opposition or opinions other than those approved by the government. 

In all of this, Navalny is a symbol of the freedom of expression, the long fight against injustice, and the willingness to continue fighting for a better future for his country, no matter the consequences. 

“I don’t want to give up either my country or my beliefs. I cannot betray either the first or the second. If your beliefs are worth something, you must be willing to stand up for them. And if necessary, make some sacrifices,” Navalny wrote on Facebook earlier this year. 

Alongside his family, democracy itself mourns his loss and will continue to honor his remarkable legacy.