Navalny’s death at age 47 has deprived the Russian opposition of its most well-known and inspiring politician less than a month before an election that will give President Vladimir Putin another six years in power.
Although neither the imprisoned anti-corruption crusader nor other Kremlin critics were in position to challenge Putin for the presidency, the loss of Navalny was a crushing blow to Russians who had pinned their future hopes on Putin’s seemingly indefatigable foe. It also prompted questions about what killed him.
A note handed to Navalny’s mother stated that he died at 2:17 p.m. local time Friday, according to Navalny spokesperson Kira Yarmysh. Prison officials told his mother when she arrived at his former penal colony Saturday that her son had perished due to “sudden death syndrome,” Ivan Zhdanov, the director of Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Putin just created a martyr, and that is what will bring him down.
Let’s hope. That’s the only reason I can think of why Navalny didn’t seek asylum after the first poisoning.
Historically it’s what happens. The people try to grieve > it gets shut down > anger festers > riots and bombings occur > etc etc etc
The other part of this is Putin’s armed forces, who he could have counted on for support 3 years ago, has been decimated … as have all his rich and powerful supporters.
His arrogance and stupidity has made him vulnerable and I, for one, am glad to see it.