First anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death
Sunday marked the first anniversary of Alexei Navalny's death. The best-known and probably most scathing opponent of Vladimir Putin's regime died suddenly under unclear circumstances after surviving a poison attack and three years of extremely harsh conditions in a remote Arctic penal colony. The media lament the loss of the Russian opposition's figurehead.
He would put them straight
Navalny's principled exhortations are sorely lacking in the current situation, The Observer laments:
“When Trump calls Putin a 'genius' who exhibits great 'common sense', does he understand - does he care - that he is dealing with a ruthless killer? When, shattering the Western consensus that Putin is an aggressor to be repulsed at all costs, Trump proposes a chummy tête-à-tête on Ukraine, does he have any idea how he is manipulated by this cynical ex-KGB thug? Does JD Vance, Trump's ignorant vice-president, realise what a dangerous game he plays when he flirts with Europe's pro-Putin neofascist far right? It seems not. Navalny would put them straight. Except he's dead.”
A divided legacy
Even in exile the Russian opposition is divided and therefore weak, complains Corriere della Sera:
“The first signs of an implosion had already become apparent when Navalny was still alive. In June 2023 his associates refused to take part in an event organised by the European Parliament aimed at finding a common tone among the many voices of the opposition in exile. Leonid Volkov, Navalny's chief of staff at the time, said they did not want to be 'in the same boat' with activists who did not share their vision. ... 'We want a different Russia' was the title of the EU meeting. But the participants were divided on how to get there.”
Not everyone has to be a Navalny
Dagens Nyheter appeals to Russia's citizens to show courage through small gestures:
“When democracy falters, individuals are called upon to save it. But there are other ways to do this than through grand gestures. ... Drawing attention to abuses of power, making a small contribution to an organisation, having the courage to speak out, showing ordinary kindness, summoning the strength to write a few lines in protest - maybe even joining a political party. 'Giving up is not an option', said Navalny. 'If they decide to kill me, it means that we are extremely strong. We have to use this strength.' Not everyone can be Alexei Navalny. But everyone is someone.”