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Understanding Navalny’s legacy inside Russia
Russian dissident Alexei Navalny was a uniquely charismatic, fearless, and media-savvy critic of Putin’s regime who will be extremely hard to replace, says GZERO’s Alex Kliment. But as beloved as he was internationally for his fearless stance against the country’s strongman leader within Russia, his appeal was somewhat limited to educated elites.
“There was a poll last year that only about 10% of Russians saw Navalny as someone whose activities they approved of about 40 or 50% said they disapproved him Navalny” Kliment says. “And a quarter of Russians had never even heard of him.”In 2020, recall, he was poisoned with a nerve agent in an attack that he blamed on the Kremlin. He later, on camera, tricked a Russian security official into appearing to admit responsibility for the hit.
That may be hard to believe for Western observers who have grown accustomed to grainy videos of Navalny defiantly smiling from behind bars. But it’s a function, Kliment says, of the fact that the Kremlin controls the media. The Kremlin has cracked down on opposition movements like Navalny’s, and many Russians who would be most likely to support him have left Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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Navalny's death is a message to the West
Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: Hi, everybody. Ian Bremmer here from the Munich Security Conference, just kicking off what is the most important security confab for NATO and the West every year. And the big news literally moments before the initial speeches for this conference, the announcement coming from Russia that Alexei Navalny had been imprisoned for years is now dead, looked fine yesterday, perfect health, when he was at a legal hearing today, suddenly died, supposedly of a stroke.
Putin, the Kremlin responsible, of course, and also a direct message. I think it's very clear to show the West to show the United States, to show NATO they can do what they want. They can act with impunity on their territory. They do not care if they are threatened. There was I remember after Biden met with Putin, this is back in 2021, and he said that it would be devastating. The consequences would be devastating for Russia if Navalny were to die in jail. Well, I mean, we've also said similar things to Putin about Russia invading Ukraine. And a couple of years on the Russian position, despite all of the economic damage they've taken, all of the military damage they've taken is that they will continue to engage in this war. They will continue to engage in human rights abuses. And it doesn't matter how the Americans or Europeans respond. The Russians will wait them out.
And that is the message that is being sent today. It's a very chilling message. I saw Vice President Harris and a number of European leaders all take to the stage, as well as Navalny's now widowed wife. All saying that this cannot be in vain, that there must be consequences. But ultimately, in an environment where rogue states feel like they have more ability to act on the global stage, Russia, Iran, North Korea, the so-called axis of resistance, terrorist actors, you will see more of this behavior. So the question is being put to the Munich Security Conference. Question is being put to NATO. Will you continue to work collectively? Will you take a stand against this sort of behavior? And Putin is watching that answer very, very carefully.
That's it for me. I'll talk to you all real soon.
- Navalny’s death: Five things to know ›
- What happens if Alexei Navalny dies? ›
- Putin critic Alexei Navalny dies in prison ›
- “A film is a weapon on time delay” — an interview with “Navalny” director Daniel Roher ›
- Putin's gulag gamble with Navalny ›
- Why is Julian Assange in the news again? - GZERO Media ›
- Tracking anti-Navalny bot armies - GZERO Media ›
Alexei Navalny's death: A deep tragedy for Russia
Carl Bildt, former prime minister of Sweden, shares his perspective on European politics from the Munich Security Conference:
The big news of the day is, of course, the death of Alexei Navalny. It's a deep tragedy primarily of course for his family. But I would argue even deeper for Russia because Alexei Navalny, he did represent the hope of very many Russians that there was something beyond this repressive, backward looking, imperial, nostalgic, aggressive regime that is now dragging Russia down.
I met him a number of times over the years. I was impressed by his bravery, how thoughtful he was, how determined he was in spite of the difficulties and the resistance that he was well aware of to pursue his vision. And he was firmly convinced that at some point in time, there will be another Russia, rule of the law, parliamentary, non-imperialistic.
And that the wave of young people that he inspired, was inspired till this day that they were going to carry that Russia forward. Now, things are different. We know that the regime tried to murder him before, ultimate responsibility for his death ultimately, irrespective of the facts, which we will never know, rests with the regime. But on this tragic day, let's remember the hope that he represented and remember his conviction that sooner or later, for Russia, that hope can be turned into reality.
- Navalny’s death: Five things to know ›
- Putin critic Alexei Navalny dies in prison ›
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- What happens if Alexei Navalny dies? ›
- “A film is a weapon on time delay” — an interview with “Navalny” director Daniel Roher ›
- Putin's gulag gamble with Navalny ›
- Tracking anti-Navalny bot armies - GZERO Media ›
Navalny's death is a huge loss for democracy - NATO's Mircea Geona
Alexei Navalny's death is a huge loss for the democratic world and for Russians, says NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana. Ian Bremmer was interviewing Geoana at the Munich Security Conference when news of Russian opposition leader Navalny’s death broke.
News broke early Friday that Russian dissident Alexei Navalny – a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin – has died in prison. “On 16.02.24 in the correctional colony number three, convict Navalny felt ill after a walk almost immediately losing consciousness,” the Federal Penitentiary Service for Yamal said in a statement, noting that emergency services were unable to revive him.
This interview is part of our upcoming GZERO World with Ian Bremmer episode on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Catch GZERO World with Ian Bremmer every week online and on US public television. Check local listings.
- Putin critic Alexei Navalny dies in prison ›
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- What happens if Alexei Navalny dies? ›
- Putin's gulag gamble with Navalny ›
- “A film is a weapon on time delay” — an interview with “Navalny” director Daniel Roher ›
- Understanding Navalny’s legacy inside Russia - GZERO Media ›
- Tracking anti-Navalny bot armies - GZERO Media ›