Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 3 (January 2016 - December 2016)
Russia Is A Terrorist State: Part 3 (2011 - 2016)
Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 3 (January 2016 - December 2016)
“Vladimir Putin vs Alexei Navalny and Vladimir Putin” by IlyaIsaev, The Presidential Press and Information Office, and krassotkin under CC BY-SA 3.0 and CC BY 4.0.
In January 2016, Alexei Navalny, the prominent Russian opposition leader, found himself in a strange form of freedom. Despite facing numerous legal challenges, he continued to fight against the regime of President Vladimir Putin. The New Yorker reported on the complexities of Navalny's situation and the limitations imposed on his activism.
Meanwhile, Putin's popularity remained unshakeable, as highlighted in a report by The Economist. The Russian president maintained a strong grip on power and enjoyed support from a significant portion of the population. Navalny's efforts to challenge Putin's rule faced an uphill battle.
As the year progressed, Navalny continued to be a thorn in the government's side. In February 2016, a corruption lawsuit filed against Putin was rejected, underscoring the challenges of holding the Russian president accountable. The Guardian reported that the European Court of Human Rights deemed Navalny's conviction arbitrary, further shining a spotlight on the Russian government's suppression of opposition voices.
Navalny himself became the target of an unusual attack in February when he was assaulted with a cake. This incident, reported by RFERL, demonstrated the lengths to which some individuals went to undermine and intimidate Navalny. The Los Angeles Times also revealed that Putin's best friend was at the heart of the Panama Papers scandal, raising questions about the extent of corruption within the Russian elite.
In April, the BBC exposed the poor English skills of Russian TV spies, highlighting the absurdity of some of the government's attempts to manipulate public opinion. However, Navalny and other activists continued to face physical attacks. In May, DW and VOA News reported that Navalny and his supporters were attacked, further demonstrating the dangers they faced for their activism.
Navalny's opposition to the Russian government's corruption intensified in June when he labeled the system as a "Mafia." VOA News covered his statement, highlighting his strong condemnation of the regime. This narrative gained further momentum in September when Navalny revealed a plush estate used by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, as reported by RFERL and the DAILY BEAST. The revelations exposed the luxurious lifestyles enjoyed by the political elite.
November brought a significant development for Navalny when the Russian Supreme Court overturned his conviction for fraud. This ruling, reported by BBC News, was seen as a small victory for Navalny and his supporters. It allowed him to regain some political momentum and continue his activism against the government.
In December 2016, Navalny made a bold announcement: he planned to run for president of Russia in 2018. This decision, covered by various news outlets including NDTV, Reuters, and The Washington Post, signaled his determination to challenge Putin directly on the national stage. However, some commentators, as discussed in DW, questioned whether Navalny's candidacy could inadvertently benefit Putin's regime.
As the year drew to a close, Navalny emerged as a prominent figure in the Russian opposition. His fight against corruption and his bid for the presidency represented a significant challenge to Putin's rule. Despite facing ongoing obstacles and physical attacks, Navalny's resilience and determination inspired many who sought a more transparent and democratic Russia.
Written in part in collaboration with ChatGPT on June 29, 2023
Previous: Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 2 (January 2014 - December 2015)
Next: Profile In Focus | Alexei Navalny Part 4 (January 2017 - June 2017)
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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 3 (January 2016 - December 2016):
Alexey Navalny’s Very Strange Form of Freedom - The New Yorker January 15, 2016
Vladimir Putin’s unshakeable popularity - The Economist February 4, 2016
Alexei Navalny, Russian dissident in winter - POLITICO February 5, 2016
Corruption lawsuit against Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected - CBC February 12, 2016
Opposition Leader Navalny Targeted In Cake Attack - RFERL February 25, 2016
Putin’s best friend is at the heart of Panama Papers scandal - Los Angeles Times April 4, 2016
Russian TV spy claims shown up by poor English - BBC News April 13, 2016
Navalny and activists attacked in Russia - DW May 17, 2016
Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny, Supporters Attacked - VOA News May 17, 2016
Navalny: Russia Run by 'Mafia' System - VOA News June 3, 2016
Conservatism as Preemptive Strike: The Case of Novosibirsk - Wilson Center September 12, 2016
Medvedev Manor: Navalny Reveals Plush Estate Used By PM - RFERL September 15, 2016
Viral Drone Video Exposes Luxury Getaway of Putin’s PM Medvedev - DAILY BEAST September 16, 2016
Russia Navalny: Supreme court overturns conviction for fraud - BBC News November 16, 2016
Russian opposition leader Navalny plans to run for president in 2018 - Reuters December 13, 2016
Navalny is useful for Putin | Commentary - DW December 15, 2016