Navalny’s friends knew he was willing to become a martyr if that’s what it took to stand up to Putin.

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.

  • Gbagginsthe3rd@aussie.zoneEnglish
    1706·
    10 months ago

    I always questioned why he went back to Russia. I thought he could have done so much more outside of a Russian prison. Intentionally in the middle of nowhere, cut off from his supporters and fellow Russians

    But he loved his country and held steadfast in his principles. He is a greater man than many. Could you trust yourself on how you would act when tested the way he was.

    • SkyezOpen@lemmy.worldEnglish
      721·
      10 months ago

      Could you trust yourself on how you would act when tested the way he was.

      Absolutely. I trust that I would run away like a little bitch. Dude had balls of steel and I truly hope he managed to show the Russian population what a tyrant putin is.

      • FRCLYE@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        10 months ago

        Absolutely, most people that think they’d take the high road and do the right thing in this situation are not being honest with themselves. As much as I’d love to believe that I would sacrifice everything to fight tiranny, I just know that when the time comes I would choose the easy way out and espace somwhere for a better life.

      • uis@lemm.eeEnglish
        6·
        10 months ago

        I truly hope he managed to show the Russian population what a tyrant putin is.

        He did. And I recoomend you to watch it. Dude investigated his own poisoning.

    • RBG@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      661·
      10 months ago

      There have been examples of the past where martyrs did change the direction of history. Maybe he hoped it would be similar and I guess we are at the find out stage.

      • rambling_lunatic@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        10 months ago

        He was, himself, a nationalist. Or at least he was in the distant past. He seemed to have distanced himself from that.

        Still, he lived by his principles. He wasn’t a robber or a hypocrite. He genuinely cared about Russia. He loved his nation. I cannot say the same for the party of crooks and thieves.

    • Technofrood@feddit.ukEnglish
      8·
      10 months ago

      I mean I doubt he would have been safe even if he didn’t go back. Maybe a little bit, but how long before he gets polonium tea, or nerve agented?