Russia: Alexei Navalny’s Widow Calls for Continued Fight for Freedom

Russian opposition figure Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Alexei Navalny, urged his supporters to continue the fight for a ‘free and peaceful’ Russia, one year after his death in prison. The main critic of President Vladimir Putin, Navalny’s legacy lives on as his wife stated in a video released today (February 16, 2025): “We know why we fight: for a future Russia that is free, peaceful, and beautiful.” She emphasized that what Navalny dreamed of is possible and encouraged everyone to contribute in their own way. Whether through protests, writing to political prisoners, or changing minds around them, she insisted there should be no doubt that good will prevail. Navalnaya, who has taken the reins of her late husband’s movement, is expected to participate in a Berlin event commemorating Navalny, part of global remembrance activities. She accused Putin of trying to erase Navalny’s memory, hide the truth about his murder, and force resignation but assured that pain makes them stronger. As a charismatic anti-corruption activist and top political adversary of Putin, Navalny was labeled an ‘extremist’ by Russian courts. Public mentions of him or his organization, Anti-Corruption Foundation, without clarification of this designation expose individuals to severe penalties, despite his mysterious death in a Russian Arctic Circle prison on February 16, 2024.