Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 8 (2020)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 8 (2020)
“Oppositionist Alexei Navalny on a march in memory of politician Boris Nemtsov, who was killed in Russia” by Michał Siergiejevicz under CC BY 2.0.
In 2020, the story of Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader, took a dramatic turn. Navalny had long been a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin and his government, and his activities garnered both national and international attention.
The year began with speculation about Putin's future and a possible partial retirement. Many wondered who would replace him and what it would mean for Navalny and the opposition movement. Despite the uncertainties, Navalny continued to make his voice heard and even praised Bernie Sanders' win in the New Hampshire primary in February.
However, tragedy struck on February 29 when a prominent liberal politician, Boris Nemtsov, was assassinated in Moscow. Navalny and other opposition figures organized rallies demanding "Russia Without Putin" in response to the killing.
As the year progressed, Navalny faced increasing pressure from the Russian government. In March, he accused Russia of emptying and freezing his bank accounts, leaving his family in a dire financial situation. In June, a new criminal case was launched against him, further escalating the government's crackdown on opposition figures.
In July, a controversial constitutional referendum took place in Russia, which could potentially allow Putin to rule until 2036. Critics claimed that the vote was rigged, further eroding trust in the government and fueling opposition sentiments.
Then, on August 20, Navalny's life took a dramatic turn. He fell ill during a flight from Siberia to Moscow and was rushed to a hospital in Omsk. Initial reports suggested that he may have been poisoned, which raised concerns about his safety and led to widespread international condemnation.
German doctors later confirmed that Navalny had indeed been poisoned with a nerve agent. This revelation sparked outrage and prompted calls for a thorough investigation into the incident. Navalny's poisoning became a major international incident, with many world leaders condemning the attack and demanding justice.
Throughout his hospitalization, Navalny remained in a coma, fighting for his life. However, in early September, he began to show signs of recovery, and he was eventually able to speak again. He shared a photo from his hospital bed, showing resilience in the face of adversity. His resilience and determination to continue his opposition activities despite the risks inspired many around the world.
Navalny's poisoning brought renewed attention to the Kremlin's tactics and raised questions about Putin's involvement. The use of a nerve agent, novichok, echoed previous incidents involving Russian dissidents and sparked debates about Russia's responsibility.
As Navalny's health improved, he made explosive revelations about the incident, claiming that Putin was behind the poisoning due to fears of him becoming a political threat.
Navalny continued to expose details of the plot, including a prank call to his alleged poisoner, revealing shocking information about the assassination attempt. The exposure of the FSB's involvement in the poisoning added to the growing global concern about the state of affairs in Russia.
The revelations shocked the world and intensified the pressure on the Russian government. The European Union and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions on individuals implicated in the poisoning, while Navalny's story continued to make headlines globally.
As the year came to a close, Navalny's poisoning had a lasting impact on the political landscape in Russia. It exposed the lengths to which the government was willing to go to silence its critics and highlighted the bravery of those who dared to oppose Putin's regime.
While Navalny's future remained uncertain, his resilience and determination continued to inspire millions. The world watched closely as events unfolded, waiting to see what would happen next in the ongoing struggle between Navalny and the Russian government.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 30, 2023
Previous: Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 7 (2019)
Next: Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 9 (2021)
Return to start: Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny
Putin Is A War Criminal
Russia Is A Terrorist State:
Part 1 (1990s)
Part 2 (2000s)
Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Part 4 (2016 - 2019)
Part 5 (2020 - 2021)
Part 6: (2022+)
Sources for Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 8 (2020):
Putin Is Planning a Partial Retirement - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace January 17, 2020
Who will replace Putin? - POLITICO January 29, 2020
Alexei Navalny’s family accounts ‘blocked and left in the red’ - The Times March 4, 2020
Russia: New case against prominent Putin opponent Alexey Navalny - Al Jazeera June 15, 2020
German doctors say comatose Putin critic Alexei Navalny was poisoned - USA Today August 20, 2020
Timeline of Attacks on Alexei Navalny, Putin's Biggest Critic in Russia - Newsweek August 20, 2020
Factbox: Who is Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny? - Reuters August 20, 2020
5 things to know about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny - POLITICO August 20, 2020
5 things to know about Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny - POLITICO August 21, 2020
Hospital confirms Putin critic Alexey Navalny was poisoned - ABC News August 24, 2020
Navalny Was Poisoned, But His Life Isn't in Danger, German Hospital Says - NPR August 24, 2020
Who wanted Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny dead? - Los Angeles Times August 28, 2020
Was Putin behind the Alexei Navalny poisoning? - eurasiagroup September 1, 2020
Navalny Poisoned With Russian Military Nerve Agent: Germany - U.S. News September 2, 2020
'This gentleman': Alexei Navalny, the name Putin dares not speak - The Guardian September 3, 2020
Statement by the North Atlantic Council on the poisoning of Alexei Navalny - NATO September 4, 2020
Russia’s Alexei Navalny out of coma, is responsive, hospital says - PBS NewsHour September 7, 2020
What Does Putin Stand to Gain (and Lose) by Going After Navalny? - Foreign Policy September 10, 2020
Aleksei Navalny Was Poisoned at His Hotel, His Team Says - The New York Times September 17, 2020
The poisoning of Alexey Navalny: Five key things to know - Al Jazeera September 18, 2020
What's Behind Putin Foe Alexei Navalny's Poisoning? - Medpage Today September 23, 2020
Russian dissident Navalny recovering faster than expected - AP News September 27, 2020
"I Assert that Putin Was Behind the Crime" - SPIEGEL International October 1, 2020
Navalny Says Putin Was Behind Poisoning Because Of Election Fears - RFERL October 6, 2020
EU to sanction six people over Navalny poisoning - DW October 14, 2020
UK sanctions Alexey Navalny’s prisoners - Gov.UK October 15, 2020
The Novichok Archipelago - Project Syndicate October 16, 2020
An interview with Alexei Navalny, assassination survivor - The Economist October 17, 2020
Alexey Navalny Has the Proof of His Poisoning - The New Yorker October 18, 2020
Alexei Navalny: Report names 'Russian agents' in poisoning case - BBC News December 14, 2020
Navalny's Underpants Smeared With Poison, Would-Be Assassin Reveals - VOA News December 21, 2020
Navalny releases recording of call to his alleged poisoner - AP News December 21, 2020
Russian spy tells Alexei Navalny novichok was put into his underwear - The Times December 22, 2020
Is the Alexei Navalny fiasco harming Vladimir Putin? - DW December 29, 2020
The Week In Russia: New Year, New Era, New Exile? - RFERL December 31, 2020