Alexei Navalny was a prominent Russian opposition leader, anti-corruption activist, and lawyer. Born on June 4, 1976, in Butyn, a suburb of Moscow, Navalny grew up in a typical Soviet-era family. He studied law at the People’s Friendship University of Russia in Moscow and later obtained a second law degree from the Russian Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation.
Navalny first gained widespread attention through his blog, which he started in 2008, where he wrote about corruption in Russian politics and business. His posts exposed numerous cases of government corruption, earning him a large following and the nickname "the man who makes Russia tremble" from Time magazine.
In 2011 and 2012, Navalny emerged as a key figure in the mass protests against electoral fraud in Russia. He coined the term "party of crooks and thieves" to describe the ruling United Russia party, a phrase that gained traction among protesters. Navalny’s activism and charisma helped galvanize opposition to Vladimir Putin’s government, and he became one of the most recognizable faces of the anti-Putin movement.
Despite facing numerous legal challenges and harassment from the Russian authorities, Navalny continued his activism. He founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in 2011, an organization dedicated to investigating and exposing corruption at the highest levels of the Russian government.
In 2013, Navalny ran for mayor of Moscow, finishing second with 27% of the vote in an election marred by allegations of fraud. His campaign, although unsuccessful, further raised his profile and solidified his reputation as a formidable opponent to the Kremlin.
Navalny’s activism has come at a significant personal cost. He has been arrested multiple times on various charges, including embezzlement and fraud, which he and his supporters contend are politically motivated. In 2014, he was convicted of embezzlement in a trial widely criticized as unfair by international observers. The European Court of Human Rights later ruled that his right to a fair trial had been violated.
In August 2020, Navalny fell critically ill on a flight from Siberia to Moscow, and he was subsequently evacuated to Germany for medical treatment. German doctors concluded that he had been poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, a highly toxic substance developed by the Soviet Union. The poisoning, which Navalny and many Western governments believe was orchestrated by the Russian state, drew widespread condemnation and led to calls for further sanctions against Russia.
After recovering from the poisoning, Navalny returned to Russia in January 2021, despite the risk of arrest. Upon his arrival in Moscow, he was immediately detained by Russian authorities, sparking protests across the country. His arrest prompted further international condemnation and calls for his release.
In February 2021, Navalny was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for violating the terms of a suspended sentence he received in 2014. The charges stemmed from accusations that he had failed to report to authorities while recovering in Germany from the poisoning. The sentence was widely condemned as politically motivated, and Navalny’s imprisonment sparked protests both in Russia and around the world.
Throughout his time in prison, Navalny has continued to be a vocal critic of Putin’s government, using social media and his supporters to disseminate messages and information. His imprisonment has also sparked renewed calls for sanctions against Russia and has put further pressure on the Kremlin to address allegations of corruption and human rights abuses.
Navalny’s plight has garnered widespread international attention and support, with many world leaders and human rights organizations calling for his release. Despite facing immense personal risk, he remains undeterred in his fight for political reform and transparency in Russia. Navalny’s resilience and courage have made him a symbol of resistance against authoritarianism and corruption, both in Russia and beyond.