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.

  • @thesporkeffect
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    -169 months ago

    Don’t idolize people, especially don’t idolize politicians. He died for a generally pro-social cause but that is the extent of the take-away here

      • @thesporkeffect
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        19 months ago

        Say what you will about hitler, but he DID kill hitler

      • Sybil
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        -19 months ago

        well he’s a fucking nazi so maybe we stop valorizing him.

    • @thesporkeffect
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      29 months ago
      1. Fuck Putin to death
      2. Explain to me why it’s good to idolize a public figure, you cowards