this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2024
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Navalny’s friends knew he was willing to become a martyr if that’s what it took to stand up to Putin.

Alexei Navalny’s long struggle against President Putin began with a humorous blog and culminated in repeated demonstrations of his willingness to risk his own life. According to the Russian authorities on Friday, he has now died in prison.

Russia’s leading opposition voice has been silenced.

Other dissident figures went into exile or died in mysterious circumstances over the past decade, leaving Navalny as the last national figure with a dedicated following.

Though he had been arrested many times before, Navalny’s defining moment in the eyes of many Russians came after the attempt to assassinate him with Novichok. He recuperated in the sanctuary of a German hospital but chose to defy Putin and return to Russia in January 2021, knowing full well he would end up in prison.

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[–] RememberTheApollo_ 41 points 8 months ago (2 children)

If Russia is like the US with trump, then there’s the active population who are supporting Putin, because even if he’s a bastard, at least he hurts the right people. Then there’s an apathetic horde, who don’t care or are too beaten down to do anything. Then there’s the group that know what’s up and wants change.

The question is if Navalny’s death meant anything. The people who care are already at a disadvantage because of the authoritarian State, the supporters aren’t going to change, and the apathetic don’t have time to care. IMO he would have been better off, alive, outside of Russia and criticizing Putin.

[–] scemmy 6 points 8 months ago (3 children)

What you said could be true of any event, but reality is, each of these events influence apathetic people to either become supporters of the regime or anti-establishment.

At least, that's my theory. If not, there would never have been any progress in human society, if things are as static as you theorized.

[–] cosmicrookie 4 points 8 months ago

I think the point is, that he might have been able to influence more, if he was alive, and maybe even free, outside of Russia

[–] RememberTheApollo_ 2 points 8 months ago

I don’t imply society is in a permanent static state, my question is if Navalny’s demise would effect any meaningful change to the status quo.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I think progress comes from young people, not apathetic people who have had changes of heart.

Apathetic parents lead to angry kids, angry kids look for answers. Some of them will find the right ones.

[–] cosmicrookie 3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Apathy is not age related; it is a state of mind. You have very energetic grown ups, and very apathetic youth and visa versa.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

Russia is not like the US under Donald John. There are indeed rabid supporters of Putin and Russian imperialism ("vatniks"), but the regime functions regardless of popular support.

You are right about what groups of people exist. You are, however, completely mistaken about their importance if you compare Russia to the US under Trump.

My understanding, which is based in large part on my personal experience and observation of the size of protests (statistics suck when dictatorships are involved), is that the vast majority of Russians dislike Putin, but they believe that there is nothing that can be done at the moment.

Doomerism is very strong in Russia. Our prevailing mentality is to suck it up and keep going. It pains me to say this, but in the current conditions of Russia, the doomers have a point.