He was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s biggest challenger and was persecuted by Russian authorities for years. According to the prison management, Alexei Navalny has now died in custody. International observers sharply criticize the Russian regime.
Political scientist Gerhard Mangott, for example, assumes that Navalny was driven to his death. The death will not harm Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin, Mangott said on Friday. News of Navalny’s death is being kept secret.
“Less will happen among the population”
“The Russian opposition will be shocked by Putin’s brutality. Less will happen among the population. There will likely be small protests in the coming days, but they will remain small,” Mangott said. Because criticism of the Russian government is followed by sanctions. As a result, you will encounter few demonstrators on the street. However, these protests are likely to dissipate quickly. There will also be great outrage abroad.
Presidential elections in mid-March
Mangott also does not expect any damage for Putin in the presidential elections in March. A minimum turnout of more than 65 percent of eligible voters is required for the election to be valid, “but that can also be falsified,” Mangott said. Nevertheless, the Russians could send a signal to the government by not voting. The 2024 Russian presidential elections will take place from March 15 to 17. The elections run for a period from 2024 to 2030.
According to the prison statement, Navalny felt “unwell” after a walk on Friday. He then “lost consciousness almost immediately.” The alarmed doctors were unable to revive the prisoner. Navalny’s team is not confirming the announcement at this time. We last contacted him two days ago and everything seemed fine.
The EU blames the “Russian regime” for Navalny’s death
The death causes international horror. The EU blames the “Russian regime” for Navalny’s death. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Navalny paid for his courage “with his life.” French Foreign Minister Stéphane Sejourne made similar comments. “His resistance to a system of oppression cost him his life,” Sejourne explains. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin should be held responsible for the deaths.
Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov called it ‘murder’. The journalist said he believed prison conditions led to Navalny’s death. “His death in a penal colony reminds us of the reality of Vladimir Putin’s regime.”
In addition to Scholz, many other German politicians also expressed their disgust. The FDP’s parliamentary manager in the Bundestag, Johannes Vogel, explained this via The SPD politician Michael Roth wrote further
Years of imprisonment in a penal colony”
Navalny had served years in prison in a penal colony. His political movement was banned and close associates were imprisoned or fled abroad. Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin’s regime tried to take him out with a poison attack in 2020. Under international pressure, Navalny was taken to Germany, where he was treated at the Berlin Charité. After his recovery, Navalny decided to return to Russia but was arrested at Moscow airport on January 17, 2021.
Last December, the politician, who was classified as a political prisoner, disappeared for several weeks. It later emerged that the justice system had transferred him from the European part of Russia to a prison camp in the far north of Siberia. Navalny suspected he needed to be as isolated as possible there before the presidential elections in March. The expert also assumes that Navalny has disappeared from the public eye.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
