Sun. Dec 22nd, 2024

Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist, has had a significant impact on Russian politics over the years. Here’s a brief timeline highlighting some key events in his life and activism:

  • 1976: Navalny was born on June 4, 1976, in Butyn, a town near Moscow, Russia.
  • 2000s: Navalny began his activism by blogging about corruption in Russia, gaining popularity for his investigations into government officials and state-owned companies.
  • 2011: He played a key role in the Russian protests against electoral fraud during the parliamentary elections, which were seen as rigged in favor of Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
  • 2013: Navalny ran for mayor of Moscow, coming in second with about 27% of the vote in an election that many saw as rigged in favor of Putin’s chosen candidate.
  • 2014: Navalny and his brother, Oleg Navalny, were convicted of embezzlement in a case widely criticized as politically motivated. Alexei received a suspended sentence, while his brother was sentenced to prison. Many observers saw this as an attempt to silence Navalny.
  • 2017: Navalny announced his candidacy for the 2018 Russian presidential election but was barred from running due to his criminal conviction, which he and his supporters viewed as politically motivated.
  • 2019: Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) released a video investigation into corruption allegations against then-Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which gained widespread attention and sparked protests across Russia.
  • 2020: Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent while on a flight from Siberia to Moscow. He was initially treated in Russia before being transferred to Germany for further medical care. Tests conducted by European laboratories confirmed the presence of Novichok in his system. Navalny accused the Russian government of orchestrating the poisoning, which the government denied.
  • 2021: After recovering from the poisoning, Navalny returned to Russia and was immediately arrested for violating the terms of his suspended sentence in the embezzlement case. His arrest sparked mass protests across Russia, leading to thousands of arrests. In February 2021, he was sentenced to 2 years and 8 months in prison.
  • 2021 (Summer): Navalny’s organizations were labeled “extremist” by Russian authorities, effectively banning them and criminalizing their activities. This move was widely condemned by international observers as an attempt to further suppress dissent in Russia.
  • 2021 (Late): Navalny went on a hunger strike in prison to demand proper medical treatment for severe back pain and numbness in his legs. His health deteriorated, leading to concerns about his well-being.
  • 2021 (December): Navalny’s team announced the closure of his Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) due to pressure from Russian authorities.
  • According to Russian accounts, Alexei Navalny took a short walk at his Siberian penal colony, said he felt unwell, then collapsed and never regained consciousness.
  • On Saturday, Navalny’s family confirmed that the political activist died at 14:17 local time (09:17 GMT) on Friday 16 February.

Related Post