Alexei Navalny’s wife Julia completed the autobiography “Patriot” herself after Navalny’s death. What becomes clear in the work is that her husband retained his sense of humor and optimism even in the darkest hours of his captivity, despite torture and illness. And yet: Alexei knew that one day he would “die alone in prison.”
Navalna describes it as an important proof of the courage of the main opposition figure against Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin and of his belief in a better future for Russia. She completed the more than 500-page work with many photos of the family and political appearances, even after Navalny’s death. She admitted that she “laughed and cried over and over again.”
Although the book is not published in Russia, it is published in Russian and 19 other languages, including German (publisher S. Fischer).
- Career milestones: Anyone who has followed Navalny’s political career will be familiar with many of the book’s stages. And he is also aware of the opposition leader’s sharp criticism – in public appearances before thousands of demonstrators, in his broadcasts on the internet or in court.
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Private: Impressions of the fate of a man who, like no other, exposed a mafia system under Putin with countless revelations, but was also carried away by his love for his wife Julia and his children Dasha and Sachar.
- Career: Navalny tells how, as the child of an officer in the crumbling Soviet Union, he became the most important fighter against corruption in the vast empire by studying law and working as a lawyer. The reader also learns about the sins of youth and Navalny’s attempt to form a front against the Kremlin through controversial cooperation with right-wing extremists.
For the most part, the book is also a reference work on how the political groundwork works – or doesn’t – in an authoritarian system, far removed from Western ideas.
- How the poison attack came about: Navalny, who has won international awards, managed to build a wide political network and expose those in power with his anti-corruption foundation, until Putin’s apparatus began to increasingly resist. Navalny also describes the numerous attacks on him, which culminated in the Novichok nerve agent poisoning attack in Siberia in 2020.
- Why did he return to Russia? Navalny extensively answers the repeatedly asked question of why he flew back from Berlin to Moscow despite the threat of prison and the risk of death. This is the only way he can be credible in his love for Russia. Anything else would be treason.
- Navalny on his imprisonment: “I knew from the beginning that I would be in prison for life,” it says at one point, and at another, “I will spend the rest of my life in prison and die there.” There will be no one left to say goodbye to.”
“Book becomes my monument”
Navalny himself seems to be at peace with himself in the book. He was able to achieve a lot in his short life, more than many others – and believes that the book, “when they finally get rid of me, will be my memorial.”
Navalny died alone in the ‘Polar Wolf’ penal camp in the Arctic on February 16 under unclear circumstances. Authorities refused to hand over his body for days until his mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, disclosed the blackmail attempts in a video call to Putin. Ultimately, she arranged for Navalny to be buried in Moscow on March 1, with the great sympathy of thousands of people.
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.
