Alexei Navalny Sacrificed Himself to Show Russia That Putin Is a Monster
Alexei Navalny Sacrificed Himself to Show Russia That Putin Is a Monster
Navalny’s friends knew he was willing to become a martyr if that’s what it took to stand up to Putin.
Navalny’s friends knew he was willing to become a martyr if that’s what it took to stand up to Putin.
Alexei Navalny’s long struggle against President Putin began with a humorous blog and culminated in repeated demonstrations of his willingness to risk his own life. According to the Russian authorities on Friday, he has now died in prison.
Russia’s leading opposition voice has been silenced.
Other dissident figures went into exile or died in mysterious circumstances over the past decade, leaving Navalny as the last national figure with a dedicated following.
Though he had been arrested many times before, Navalny’s defining moment in the eyes of many Russians came after the attempt to assassinate him with Novichok. He recuperated in the sanctuary of a German hospital but chose to defy Putin and return to Russia in January 2021, knowing full well he would end up in prison.
I always questioned why he went back to Russia. I thought he could have done so much more outside of a Russian prison. Intentionally in the middle of nowhere, cut off from his supporters and fellow Russians
But he loved his country and held steadfast in his principles. He is a greater man than many. Could you trust yourself on how you would act when tested the way he was.
165The day we all knew was coming, sadly. The day he set foot on that plane back to Moscow from Germany, it was not a question of if but when this would happen.
41If Russia is like the US with trump, then there’s the active population who are supporting Putin, because even if he’s a bastard, at least he hurts the right people. Then there’s an apathetic horde, who don’t care or are too beaten down to do anything. Then there’s the group that know what’s up and wants change.
The question is if Navalny’s death meant anything. The people who care are already at a disadvantage because of the authoritarian State, the supporters aren’t going to change, and the apathetic don’t have time to care. IMO he would have been better off, alive, outside of Russia and criticizing Putin.
41Sergei Magnitsky already did this in 2009, but I suppose we needed a reminder.
26I don't understand why he returned to Russia just to get killed.
It doesn't seem to have achieved anything. Did he think the rigged Russian courts would save him?
Snowden and Assange doing everything they can to stay out of the claws of their fascist overlords, but Navalny just handed himself over to his...
21Further investigation has revealed he died of a rare condition where his balls were just too damn big. There are a lot of people in Russia, but not many at all this brave and resolute. I hope his death awakens more of this rebellious spirit. All evil dictators have a tipping point. Nothing is impossible. Fuck Putin. Fuck the oligarchy. Fuck the propaganda machine. Fuck the military. Fuck them hard.
20Putin was one already.
5This will be perceived as whataboutism, but it's intended as media critique. Julien Assange is a journalist that has been a political prisoner for more than a decade with failing health and he might well die in prison for what he believes in (freedom and accountability to those in power).
Yet the overall propaganda is very strong, he's been smeared by propaganda (similar to how Russian people might have stories in their head against Navalny) and no US mainstream news corp would call Biden or Trump "a Monster" for doing this.
I'm very sorry Navalny died and he's a martyr for democracy and freedom. But I can't help to think how hollow and hypocritical this is. If Russia were to be "freed" / regime changed then this is the glorious example of what awaits them? And that is why Russians aren't overly eager to supplant Putin, they know they think they'll just get a different kind of shit government like in the US. Best they could hope for is something like a european social democratic government that only aiding a little bit in genocide. And I do wish that for them and hope Putin is ousted.
2Who's not happy can go here https://neputin.org/ And maybe even here https://shtab.navalny.com/
2Hthhhhh%hhhdqhh%ud
1oof
1A self-made martyr?
1Like we didn't know that
0Be careful who you praise:
Navalny took part in the Russian March, an annual demonstration in Moscow that draws ultranationalists, including some who adopt swastika-like symbols. In 2008, Navalny, like an apparent majority of Russians, supported Russian aggression in Georgia. In 2013, he made illegal immigration from Central Asia a central theme of his campaign for mayor of Moscow. In 2014, after Russia occupied Crimea, he said that, while he opposed the invasion, he did not think that Crimea could be just “handed back” by a post-Putin Russian government.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-evolution-of-alexey-navalnys-nationalism
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