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There are phrases that become contemporary history the moment someone pronounces them. This is a phrase like this: “You know, there was Tsar Alexander the Liberator, there was Yaroslavl the Wise and there was Vladimir the underpants poisoner.”
Alexej Navalny delivered the sentence in court today, in court that a little later sent him behind bars for more than 2.5 years. Reason: Navalny did not meet parole requirements. He should have regularly informed the authorities about a suspended prison sentence, but he did not.
Justice was not about justice
This reason is only feigned: the original sentence was criticized in 2017 by the European Court of Human Rights as “arbitrary”. The Russian state even paid compensation to Navalny.
It’s obvious: today was not about justice in court, it was about the story of Navalny’s panties. In other words: it was about politics. Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok last summer and barely survived. An investigation carried out by an international network of journalists shows that behind the crime it is presumed that there were agents of the Russian secret service FSB.
Personal indictment of Vladimir Putin
The poison is said to have been poured into the opposition politician’s underwear. It is difficult to imagine that the Kremlin did not know of the attack. In any case, Navalny personally accuses Vladimir Putin, in other words: “Vladimir, the underpants poisoner.”
Today’s court ruling shows the cruelty with which the Kremlin persecutes the opposition Navalny. Not only is the politician himself the target, most of his close confidants are also in custody. This enormous pressure did not make Navalny small, but big.
Navalny has now become a hero
A year ago he was one of the many opponents of the Kremlin. Many Russians, especially the intelligentsia, didn’t like him, they thought he was loud, self-indulgent and a populist on top of that. But now he is a hero. In Russia there are currently only two completely independent politicians: Vladimir Putin – and: Alexej Navalny.
His bravery, his courage, his lack of respect for the powerful – that impresses many. Navalny goes against the system with everything he has: even his life. It is a daring strategy because the Russian state is strong. More than 5,500 people were arrested last Sunday alone for demonstrating. The power apparatus is more closed than ever: not a single parliamentarian, not a governor, not a minister, nobody questions the Kremlin’s policy. Everyone is silent.
So much pressure would break many
Navalny, on the other hand, has no apparatus: neither judges nor policemen. He also has no money. He doesn’t even have his freedom anymore. But you have the floor. In the thunderous silence, he talks about his underpants, which are poisoned by allegedly state assassins for hire.
Navalny may well be behind bars for more than 2.5 years. New criminal proceedings are being prepared against him. So much pressure would break many others. On the other hand, he said today in court: “I will fight and I will continue fighting.” It almost seems like he’s thinking in superhuman historical standards. Exactly: Navalny the Great.
David nauer
Russia Correspondent, SRF
