Alexei Navalny’s Death: A Chilling Precedent

On February 16th, the world was notified of a tragic event. One of Putin’s fiercest critics, the man who decided to put his life and freedom on the line to attempt to change the Russian autocracy, Alexei Navalny, died in the prison of the “Polar Wolf”, a former Gulag, in the far North of the country. 

But who is Navalny and why is his death so important to us? 

A Short Biography: Who is Alexei Navalny? 

Alexei Navalny emerged as a young and influential protest leader through his fight against corruption in the Russian government on social media platforms. Namely, he exposed the corruption surrounding former president and prime minister Dmitry Medvedev, but also found and investigated Vladimir Putin’s presidential palace situated on the Black Sea. He also engaged in politics, running for presidential elections in 2018, in which his registration was denied. 

These campaigns, by their impact on the Russian population, caught the attention of the Russian government. 

He first faced attempts of intimidation. In 2017, Navalny was attacked twice and splashed with a powerful antiseptic (zelyonka) which left his face coloured in green and diminished the vision of one of his eyes. 

In August 2020, FSB agents poisoned his underwear with the Novichok nerve agent in a hotel, just before he boarded a flight from Siberia to Moscow. It was later proven that, had the plane not diverted and carried out an emergency landing, he would have died. When his conditions stabilised, he was evacuated to Germany to receive treatment, against the government prohibition. After recovering from the attack, Navalny decided to return to Russia, knowing that this implied an inevitable arrest. Despite the threat, Alexei refused to advocate against Putin in exile. 

Life in Prison and his Death

After multiple trials, Navalny was sentenced to 30 years in prison for “promoting terrorism, funding and promoting extremism, and rehabilitating Nazism”. He was sent to the Polar Wolf penal colony, a former Gulag (soviet labour camp) situated above the Arctic Circle, known for brutal prisoner treatment and glacial temperatures. It was reported that Navalny faced violence and sleep deprivation, being isolated in the cold for days. 

There is little information about his death, apart from official reports, which stated that he died of “natural causes”. However, many suspect the government orchestrated his death. Alexei’s wife, Yulia Navalnaya, accuses Putin of killing her husband. Considering prisoner’s testimonies from the night before, the multiple past attempts against Alexei’s life and his biased trials, it is not unreasonable to think so. 

Moreover, after signing the death certificate, the authorities attempted to threaten Alexei’s mother into accepting a secret burial. The body was only returned to her 8 days after her son’s death. 

It is not the first time that critics of the Russian powers have died as a result of their protests. Although such deaths in prisons are rarer than during the Soviet era, many opponents have been poisoned or killed, even beyond the borders of the country. A few months ago, in August 2023, the head of the Wagner group of mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, rebelled against the power of Putin and decided to plan a military attack on Moscow. Yet, before executing his plan, Prigozhin died in a plane crash. The government denies any implication in the accident, but it must be noted that his death was very convenient for Putin. Similarly, in November 2006, Alexander Litvinenko, a former FSB agent exiled in Great Britain and actively criticising the actions of Putin, was poisoned with polonium-210, a highly radioactive isotope, added to his cup of tea. 

What Can We Expect Now? 

Despite staying in her husband’s shadow for years, Yulia Navalnaya directly speaks up against Putin whilst in exile, and she has met with President Joe Biden on this matter. Yulia appears to have chosen to continue Alexei’s political activism. 

Nonetheless, Navalny’s death bears multiple negative consequences. Firstly, it leaves the country without its more prominent and charismatic opposition leader. This can be a clear threat to the opposition, leaving it without anyone to rally behind. This is enhanced by the imminence of the presidential elections, from which Putin’s main opponent Boris Nadezhdin has been barred. 

Secondly, this marks a new level of repression in Russia, where Putin’s opponents, regardless of their level of popularity and influence, are not only punished but face a death threat. 

Finally, Navalny’s death showcases the failure of civilians to resist the Kremlin’s power. Alexei hoped his actions would push the Russian population to act, but the opposition remains too scared to act, whilst the majority supports Putin. As such, it is unlikely that this could be a tipping point for Putin. 

Ultimately, this death is an example of the fragility of Western powers. Will they intervene, through for example sanctions announced by President Biden? Or will they remain silent, revealing their inability to face Russia? 

By Lea Natanek