Alexi Navalny And His Current Situation
Jones William and D. S. Mitchell
Massive protests
Alexi Navalny is a pain in Putin’s side. Allies of the Russian dissident began protests April 21st, 2021, demanding Putin’s most vocal critic receive proper hospital care. People despite government crackdowns on protests showed up in large numbers. Many supporters believe only mass protests can save Alexi’s life and many people are willing to risk imprisonment and harassment by the police.
Alexi Navalny Today
Alexi Navalny was arrested the day he returned to Russia after being treated in Germany for what appeared to have been a nerve agent poisoning. During this most recent imprisonment, on March 31st, 2021, Navalny went on a hunger strike, demanding proper medical treatment for loss of sensations in his hands and legs and severe back pain.
Deteriorating
Recent news reports indicate an electrolyte imbalance. His high potassium levels increase his risk for a cardiac arrhythmia. His personal physician pleaded that Navalny should be moved to an intensive care unit because of his deteriorating condition. Navalny also risks severe renal impairment. Navalny’s wife, Yulia, said her husband’s weight is down to 167 lbs from 187 lbs when he started the hunger strike at the end of March.
Don’t Let Navalny Die In Prison
The growing clamor over Navalny’s grave situation caused an angry Putin to tell the world to ‘stay out of Russian State business,’ after Biden publicly told Russia, “don’t let Navalny die in prison.” As alarmed supporters hit the streets Navalny appeared to be facing imminent death. But within 24-hours in a surprise announcement Putin said he had arranged for Navalny’s transfer out of the prison system and into a hospital. At the same time it was announced that Navalny had agreed to end his 24 day hunger strike.
Early Life
Alexi Navalny was born on June 4th, 1976 in Butyn, located to the West of Moscow. He grew up in Obninsk and graduated from Moscow’s Friendship of the People’s University in 1998 with a law degree.
Alexi’s war against corruption
In 2011 Alexi became one of the founders of the Anti-corruption Foundation. His rise can be traced back to 2008 when he began blogging about corruption and malpractice in Russian corporations. In 2013 he founded the Progress party, which was later renamed Russia of the Future. He was given a five-year sentence for embezzlement in Kirov, but this was seen to be political, and the sentence was suspended and he was immediately released. In 2014 he came in second when he ran for Mayor of Moscow.
Lots Of Subscribers
Navalny is known to speak the street language of the Russian youth, which increases his influence on social media. Navalny’s video “Putin’s Palace,” on YouTube has had more than 100 million views. Putin’s arch critic claims the vast black sea palace was gifted to Putin by his wealthy associates. Navalny is a social media sensation having over six million YouTube subscribers and over two million followers on Twitter. He has been a prominent Anti-corruption Campaigner and a vocal opponent to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In 2017 Navalny’s documentary ‘HE IS NOT DIMON TO YOU’; about Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev led to many protests. In 2020 some Navalny supporters were elected to several councils in Siberia.
Target for poisoning
Navalny’s battle against Putin has become personal. He accused Putin of being the one behind his multiple poisoning attacks. In 2019 while in jail, Alexi was diagnosed with contact dermatitis suggesting exposure to toxic agents. In court, Navalny told the judge Vladimir Putin was the ‘underpants poisoner’ accusing Putin of putting poison in his undershorts. Another time he was attacked with Zelyonka, a green dye that resulted in chemical burns nearly blinding him in one eye. In August 2020, Navalny collapsed while on a flight to Siberia. The plane made an emergency landing and Navalny was rushed to a hospital in Omsk. Later he was airlifted to Berlin for further treatment after a German charity put pressure on Russian officials to release him. It was a suspected nerve gas attack.
German Optics
In September 2020, the German government linked the Kremlin to “unequivocal proof of a chemical nerve agent of the Novichok group”. Putin and the Kremlin aggressively denied this allegation. Novichok is a dangerous poison. Sergei Skripal a former double agent now living in the U.K. and his daughter Yulia nearly died in Salisbury, England, when Kremlin agents attacked them with the same chemical. The European Union imposed sanctions on a Russian chemical weapons research center and six top Russian officials due to their involvement in the poisoning.
Conclusion
The story of Alexi Navalny is an evolving one. We in the West are mere observers, but we hope that Mr. Navalny will be provided the best care and released from prison. Put pressure on your representative or senator to release Alexi Navalny.
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2021/02/28/alexi-navalny-enemy-of-the-rogue-state-15893/
REFERENCES
https://www.calamitypolitics.com/2021/02/28/alexi-navalny-enemy-of-the-rogue-state-15893/#more-15893
https://www.state.gov/the-sentencing-of-russian-opposition-figure-aleksey-navalny/
https://www.dw.com/en/in-prison-alexei-navalny-criticizes-information-vacuum/a-56327124
