Russian Opposition Leader Aleksei Navalny Passes Away at 47 in Prison

Aleksei A. Navalny, a leading opposition figure in Russia, who has faced harassment, assault, and even poisoning, passed away at the age of 47 while in prison. After his return from Germany following a poisoning incident, Navalny was given various prison sentences on charges his supporters believe were fabricated in an attempt to silence him. His time in prison was marked by harsh treatment and solitary confinement, as well as frequent health complaints. Despite this, he remained an outspoken critic of President Vladimir V. Putin. Navalny made innovative use of social media to build an opposition movement and publish investigations into corruption among the Russian elite. He most recently received a 19-year sentence for extremism. Navalny’s activism and criticism of Putin made him a significant figure in Russian politics and earned him attacks, both physical and legal. He had openly speculated about the possibility of being assassinated and eventually became the victim of poisoning. Though his return was met with an arrest, protests broke out across the country. Some of his political views were controversial, but Navalny’s innovative approach to fighting corruption and promoting democracy defiantly earned him a base of support in Russia. Throughout his activism, he remained determined to bring about change in his country and held a strong dislike for the elite and the security services that protected them. Despite being an influential opposition figure, Navalny was unable to unite the pro-democracy opposition parties in a fractured political landscape. Born to a Red Army officer, he studied law and economics and initially gained recognition for his blog criticizing government insiders.

Source
Photo credit www.nytimes.com