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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[–] [email protected] 165 points 10 months ago (5 children)

I always questioned why he went back to Russia. I thought he could have done so much more outside of a Russian prison. Intentionally in the middle of nowhere, cut off from his supporters and fellow Russians

But he loved his country and held steadfast in his principles. He is a greater man than many. Could you trust yourself on how you would act when tested the way he was.

[–] SkyezOpen 71 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Could you trust yourself on how you would act when tested the way he was.

Absolutely. I trust that I would run away like a little bitch. Dude had balls of steel and I truly hope he managed to show the Russian population what a tyrant putin is.

[–] FRCLYE 8 points 10 months ago

Absolutely, most people that think they'd take the high road and do the right thing in this situation are not being honest with themselves. As much as I'd love to believe that I would sacrifice everything to fight tiranny, I just know that when the time comes I would choose the easy way out and espace somwhere for a better life.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I truly hope he managed to show the Russian population what a tyrant putin is.

He did. And I recoomend you to watch it. Dude investigated his own poisoning.

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[–] [email protected] 65 points 10 months ago (2 children)

There have been examples of the past where martyrs did change the direction of history. Maybe he hoped it would be similar and I guess we are at the find out stage.

[–] agitatedpotato 48 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Even Lenin stayed out of Russia when the government set it sights on him and waited for a more oportune time to come back. Here's to hoping Martyrdom will change things, but Russians are very very used to things getting worse and just taking it on the chin.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago

Happy endings are banned in Slavic history

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[–] captainlezbian 29 points 10 months ago (1 children)

He seems like a true patriot in a land of nationalists

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I mean I doubt he would have been safe even if he didn't go back. Maybe a little bit, but how long before he gets polonium tea, or nerve agented?

[–] [email protected] 9 points 10 months ago

They already had tried to get him with Novichock and just barely didn't kill him. I'm sure they'd have tried again.

[–] [email protected] 43 points 10 months ago (2 children)

The sacrifice was in vain, we know Putin is a shithead.

[–] [email protected] 31 points 10 months ago (6 children)

Which "we" are you talking about? Because a lot of Russians vote for him (and I don't mean just the fake votes, but the real ones as well).

[–] some_designer_dude 20 points 10 months ago

The Russian ballot box is a paper shredder that increments “Putin” by 1.

[–] Poem_for_your_sprog 12 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Votes don't matter in Russia

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago

They matter. You vote Putin or you vote Putin but the government notes your impropriety. Voting is a purity test.

[–] Mistic 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

They may not matter in a sense that you can't elect anybody but Putin.

But they do matter in a sense of showing the incumbent they aren't stable.

After successful re-election of incumbent, they fall into a sense of euphoria. This leads to creation of some absolutely horrific and unjust laws.

However, when the re-election is deemed unsuccessful (say 55% voted for "the right candidate", but the second place got scary high 30-35%), they become timid.

That's how informational autocracies work. And that's why elections there absolutely do matter, as they directly affect quality of life. It's the safest and loudest way of showing the government your middle finger.

[–] asteriskeverything 6 points 10 months ago

The Other Mr. President - by This American Life did a really great episode interviewing Russians on their thoughts and feelings on Putin.

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[–] RememberTheApollo_ 41 points 10 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 10 months ago (4 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.

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[–] resetbypeer 41 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

The day we all knew was coming, sadly. The day he set foot on that plane back to Moscow from Germany, it was not a question of if but when this would happen.

[–] cosmicrookie 32 points 10 months ago (14 children)

Everybody know that Putin is a monster, except for the Russians. They need a revolution!

[–] maness300 9 points 10 months ago

Russians know it to, they just can't do anything about it.

[–] buddascrayon 7 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They know. They just don't care because he's "their" monster. Nothing will change in the wake of Nelvany's death.

This is a harsh lesson in allowing the cult of personality into a democratic election. Everyone should have learned from Hitler's example but memories are apparently short lived. Now we have people like Netanyahu, Putin, and Trump and a world war is inevitable.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 10 months ago

"They" do not hold any particular position. That would be because "they" hold a multitude of positions, at its extreme as many as there are people in the particular society we refer to as "they".

And lose the drama, because:

  1. There are always such people.

  2. Putin became president in 1999 and the last arguably democratic election in Russia was in 1996.

  3. About Hitler - I think somebody skipped their history and doesn't know that European states didn't immediately cease to be colonialist just cause WWII ended and the new reality ensued. And Europeans would behave pretty hitleresque in colonies, think of French in Algeria or maybe Indochina.

  4. It's spelled Navalny.

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[–] profdc9 26 points 10 months ago

Sergei Magnitsky already did this in 2009, but I suppose we needed a reminder.

[–] maness300 25 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (3 children)

Did he really need to sacrifice himself for that?

Is there seriously anyone who was in denial until they learned about Navalny?

[–] Krzd 23 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sadly, yes. Russian State Media is the only source of information for a lot of "normal" Russians. Although that sadly also means that his sacrifice most likely won't have a large impact on the Russian political landscape.

[–] maness300 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Then it's worse than I thought.

Kind of strange that a culture with so many pariahs seems to also have a stranglehold on any dissent.

I guess China is the same way, so I shouldn't be surprised.

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[–] Sylvartas 21 points 10 months ago (2 children)

Unfortunately I don't think his sacrifice is gonna achieve much. I'd love to be proven wrong though.

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[–] Linkerbaan 21 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I don't understand why he returned to Russia just to get killed.

It doesn't seem to have achieved anything. Did he think the rigged Russian courts would save him?

Snowden and Assange doing everything they can to stay out of the claws of their fascist overlords, but Navalny just handed himself over to his...

[–] rdri 19 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Those who don't understand that paid little attention to his life and his fight. I suggest you checking out the Navalny documentary at least.

[–] Chocrates 10 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Got a title or a link for the uninformed?

[–] rdri 18 points 10 months ago (1 children)

It's called Navalny. They made it available for free here though not sure if proper subtitles are included https://navalny-film.io/

Otherwise it's on streaming platforms and torrents.

[–] Chocrates 7 points 10 months ago

Awesome thank you

[–] [email protected] 15 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I don’t understand why he returned to Russia just to get killed.

Because in Russia you have to sacrifice yourself and suffer to be "real" politician, and not "stay in cozy Germany", "preaching from abroad". Navalny and other imprisoned politicians believe this too, they're the product of the same society after all.

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[–] preludeofme 6 points 10 months ago

That's called dedicating your life to a cause. He knew he was going to be killed and was willing to give up his life to hopefully bring down Putin at some point hopefully in the future

[–] [email protected] 20 points 10 months ago

Further investigation has revealed he died of a rare condition where his balls were just too damn big. There are a lot of people in Russia, but not many at all this brave and resolute. I hope his death awakens more of this rebellious spirit. All evil dictators have a tipping point. Nothing is impossible. Fuck Putin. Fuck the oligarchy. Fuck the propaganda machine. Fuck the military. Fuck them hard.

[–] xc2215x 5 points 10 months ago

Putin was one already.

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