[ad_1]
There is no need to remind readers of my articles on Navaln’s bravery, the regime’s banditry, or the farce of the charges against him. His real crime is not committing death. This is a sign of what Russian propaganda is capable of distorting the truth and how our own moral sentiments have faded that treating Navaln seems like an ordinary scandal. As soon as he avoided deadly poisoning, he chose to voluntarily return to his homeland and be captured again by a regime that had already shown a bold determination to silence him by any means.
Russians draw their own conclusions from various walks of life: The West talks about democracy, but profits are more important.
Words are cheap, they are never cheap. We have already seen political leaders express concern, anger or other emotions when a top critic of Vladimir Putin was arrested at Sheremetyevo airport on Sunday night. However, the Russian regime is used to criticism. It will also continue with the greed and hypocrisy of the West. Angry words fly in one direction, with oil, gasoline, dirty money, and private jets in the other. Russians draw their own conclusions from various walks of life: The West talks about democracy, but profits are more important.
For A. Navalnas to stay alive, that must change. In particular, everyone involved in their previous persecution, current arrest, and future trial must discover that they and their money will no longer be desirable in the West. No visas, shopping trips, vacations, no bank accounts, no investments. Apply the same conditions to spouses, children, parents, siblings (with the ability to appeal so that everything is done fairly).
In addition, Western governments should force their police, intelligence agencies and financial supervisors to analyze every second the hundreds of videos that Navaln and his colleagues have posted on their YouTube channel. These documentaries reveal, in sharp detail, how Kremlin robbers are robbing Russia. Tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars, euros and pounds have leaked into real estate and financial markets or other havens in the West. That must end. Track where this money has gone, freeze accounts, confiscate property. Require details of who the true beneficiaries are and evidence that the money was obtained in good faith.
But also act against intermediaries. Every dirty transaction needs people to organize it: bankers to handle the money, accountants to falsify the accounts, lawyers to make it look flawless. These accomplices must also break out in a cold sweat. Maybe they should lose their jobs. Perhaps your employers should pay damaging fines. Maybe those people should end up in jail. The small minimum price should be an embarrassment to the public.
And we should dig deeper. The Navaln Anticorruption Foundation is doing an extraordinary job with limited resources. Think how much more could be calculated if the effort was really well funded. Also, think about how much more revealing the results could be if investigative journalists weren’t intimidated by the prospect of getting involved in excruciatingly expensive litigation. Proposing an international public interest ban on libelous cases of defamation, invasion of privacy or data protection would mean helping truth-tellers against harassment. We could offer scholarships, bonuses and salaries to those who are willing and able to investigate the Russian (and Chinese) tentacles of corruption in our political system.
Even local authorities can do some things. Russian embassies and consulates in the West have addresses. Let’s change them so that these institutions are on Navalno Street.
Imagine Navaln without dying in prison. Imagine that he regains his freedom and is now personally speaking with you. He asks, “What did you do when they arrested me?”
What are you going to answer?
Lucas is vice president of the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
[ad_2]
