Protests in Russia Grow Surrounding Alexei Navalny’s Imprisonment

By Mimi Lebeau ‘24

For decades, the Russian government has exerted its power over its citizens, and just this year, those injustices have been further demonstrated through its treatment of Alexei Navalny. 
Navalny, an anti-corruption activist and Russian opposition leader, has been persecuted by the Russian government, with Vladamir Putin himself leading the charge. Many murder attempts have been made against Navalny, the most prominent of which was  poisoning using the nerve agent, Novichok. Novichok is a chemical weapon developed during the Soviet-era that slows the heart and deteriorates muscles used for breathing and is known by its creators as the deadliest nerve agent ever created.

After spending five months in Germany recovering from the attack, Navalny returned to Moscow and was detained by Kremlin police on Jan. 17. Currently, he is imprisoned awaiting punishment. 
Officials of the Russian government are tasked with the vital decision regarding how to handle Navalny. If it were solely up to the government, Navalny would likely be executed, but that could lead to violent backlash from the population. However, letting him off free to appease the public would send an important message to the country: that Navalny’s actions were acceptable by Russian standards, something not in the current administration’s best interests.
“The first important political decision will concern how long he’s held in custody,” Tatyana Stanovaya, the head of independent analysis site R-Politik, said. “The ideal solution is to keep Navalny in constant fear of being jailed for many years but probably without sentencing him for too long at once.”
According to Stanovaya, the government will hold Navalny in custody for short periods of time, releasing him to mollify the public while still putting him in a constant state of paranoia. However, right now, there is no official announcement on what will happen as the government tries Navalny for his so-called crimes; his most recent being defaming a Soviet war hero of World War II on social media. 
Since he was jailed in January, Russians have been protesting Navanly’s unjust treatment on the streets in Moscow and social media, creating slogans such as “love is stronger than fear” to boost the cause.
“It seems like bad form to imprison your opponent,” junior Hannah Stoch said. “If Putin actually wished to aid his people, he would listen to them. Obviously, that isn’t his goal, and that’s the reason protests are taking place.”
Likely the most prominent of these movements is the flashlight demonstration, which caught the attention of the Russian government. Protestors stand outside of the Kremlin in Moscow, holding up the flashlight of their phones symbolizing a bright light of hope.
Aside from the direct protests surrounding Navalny’s arrest, many movements have risen in light of the political climate, the most famous of those being the Chain of Solidarity and Love.
This movement was organized by feminist activists in support of Navalny’s wife, Yulia, and the countless other Russian women who have been harmed since Navalny’s persecution. Since the start of these protests, Yulia had been detained multiple times before flying back to Germany for what the press claim is a private visit.
“We urge citizens to refrain from participating in unsanctioned rallies,” Russia’s Interior Ministry warned citizens despite how influential these protests seem.
“Our law enforcement officers will bring perpetrators to justice if they violate the law,” Putin’s spokesperson added.
Freshman Shoshie Newman said, “I think the Russian government is far too focused on amplifying the message they are trying to send out to the public. Right now, it is more important that they bring Navalny to justice.”
Due to the catastrophic public reaction to Navalny’s arrest, researchers believe that Navalny’s fate will depend on the population’s reaction. It is imperative to the survival of the Putin administration that Russian officials find a middle ground in which they are able to intimidate their citizens without causing the public to revolt.
As this situation continues to unfold, expect to see the influence the Russian public has in protesting its abusive government. This newfound empowerment is sure to open the door to all kinds of activism and, eventually, a change in Russia’s oppressive ways.
Freshman Hannah Weisz said, “I admire their bravery for standing up for themselves and the other people in their country.”