The passing of Alexei Navalny on February 16, 2024, allegedly at the hands of Vladimir Putin, stands as a deeply distressing and tragic event. Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny’s widow, has asserted that Navalny suffered torture, starvation, isolation, and ultimately, death by Putin’s orders.
While Putin may resort to abhorrent tactics to eliminate his adversaries, he can never extinguish the beacon of freedom and democracy for which Navalny courageously stood. The bravery demonstrated by Alexei Navalny in 2021 is extraordinary.
Alexei Navalny (Credits: Reuters)
Despite being targeted with a Novichok nerve agent by Putin’s FSB and subsequently hospitalized in Germany, Navalny made the courageous decision to return to Russia, determined to continue his fight for democracy, fully aware of the grave risks he faced, including imprisonment and potential loss of life.
It has been three agonizing years since Navalny was unjustly sentenced to prison, yet the UK government has failed to fully sanction all individuals listed on the ‘Navalny List’. Shockingly, nearly one in five individuals on the list remain unsanctioned, a situation that is utterly unacceptable.
Alexei Navalny (Credits: PEOPLE)
At this moment, British national Vladimir Kara-Murza languishes unjustly imprisoned in Russia. It is imperative that the UK government prioritizes diplomatic efforts to secure his release.
The reprehensible actions perpetrated against Navalny by Putin must also serve as a call to action for increased support for Ukraine. There is no doubt regarding Putin’s intentions for Ukraine and its people.
It is incumbent upon the UK to lead within Europe, ensuring that we and our allies take decisive steps to bolster Ukraine, particularly in light of wavering support from the US.
This should begin with the seizure of Russian assets within our borders, redirecting these resources to fund Ukraine’s defense and resilience efforts.
