02/16/2024
Alexey Navalny (Алексей Навальный) has died in prison, and it is not a tragic coincidence. We should not lull ourselves to inaction by waiting for an official report that will undoubtedly present a plausible explanation for his death. This was murder. Murder for which the Russian government, and president Putin are personally responsible.
His death follows the harrowing fate of Vasily Alexanyan and Sergey Magnitsky, who were denied medical treatment and tortured to death in prison. This was the same method. Poison, torture and medical neglect - slowly and painfully - this is how the Russian government kills its political opponents, kills its own citizens.
How the world leaders respond will determine the safety of other political prisoners, including my friend Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Andrey Pivovarov and many others held in Russia. President Biden was clear in his response to this tragedy. It’s now time for the rest of the world leaders to stand firm and condemn Putin as an illegitimate dictator who murders his political opponents.
