Alexei Navalny has died

archfi

Just on Pat Kenny show, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has reportedly died in prison.

Not unexpected I'd say, I can't see it having any big effect on the current political situation in Russia.

https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2024/0216/1432697-alexei-navalny/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68315943

Boggles

Surprised he lasted that long.

Should never have went back.

He fell out an open window?

breezy1985

I was always shocked they kept him alive this long.

elperello

RIP

Murdered by Putin.

murpho999

I'm surprised that a prison would have an open window to make accidents like this possible.

fits

I wish he hadn’t gone back.

whisky_galore

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774994#Comment_121774994

Something on the prison menu didn't agree with him.

Brussels Sprout

That scene with him in that plane flying back to Moscow in the excellent documentary about him from a few years ago was very powerful - I think he knew that this was where his story could have ended up. He took that risk anyway. He was a brave man. RIP.

MacDanger

RIP

A very brave man

Boggles

The day Nadezhdin loses his appeals to run in the election.

If that lad isn't quietly sneaking over the border with his family, he won't last a month.

Reckless Abandonment

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774986#Comment_121774986

Putin making a point there are worse things than, falling out a window.

Ten of Swords

Russian media are reporting he suffered a blood clot while walking

https://www.rbc.ru/politics/16/02/2024/65cf47909a794754d6646c58

По данным источника RT, у Навального во время прогулки оторвался тромб.

(Translated: According to an RT source, Navalny suffered a blood clot during a walk.)

Astral Nav

RIP, stood up to a rotten, evil system.

Kindly remember who the friends of Putin are at the upcoming Euro elections.

dulpit

I don't get why he went back to Russia. Surely a voice who can travel around capital cities and being a source for opposition is better than a prisoner who now sadly has died...

Bobson Dugnutt

Surprised he lasted that long. Putin is a sociopathic dictator.

I wonder will that moral coward Chay Bowes have anything to say about this? Wouldn’t hold my breath. Imagine being such a malcontent that you move to Russia so you can spew out Putin’s talking points on Russia Today?

Brussels Sprout

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775108#Comment_121775108

I suspect that he gambled that he could be a Nelson Mandela-like figure. He knew for certain that he would be jailed but the hope would have been that the Putin regime would fall at some stage and he would be the obvious leader of the opposition and future leader of the country at that stage.

chuchuchu

I assume the Russian people don't even give a sh1t. The people in that country seem to be cold and indifferent, to the political course of that country. All wrapped up in the romance of the historical Russian Empire.

keeponhurling

This will probably barely get a mention on Russian State-controlled TV

Shows the power of censorship I guess.

RIP, a very brave and principled man.

Kaisr Sose

Very sad news. A brave man, RIP.

Montage of Feck

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775100#Comment_121775100

Is that Russian for taking a beating by prison guards?

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775390#Comment_121775390

You know what happens when you assume.

jmayo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775390#Comment_121775390

Hey this is a people that still lauded Stalin as he slaughtered millions on a whim.

Even with fall of USSR you had fruit loops lauding the likes of Stalin.

Hell they had kholops and serfdom until 1861.

The USSR was just a continuation of the Russian Empire where those on the inside did well and the rest were treated like shyte.

Only difference was the ones on the inside changed.

Maybe Putin might develop a blood clot. 🙏

Strazdas

Murdered by the regime presumably? He seemed in good form yesterday and to be having no health problems.

https://twitter.com/francis_scarr/status/1758460490403959114

Montage of Feck

Very brave man, he must have known he'd pay with his life going back, hopefully his sacrifice might inspire the Russian people to rise up. Not that I'm holding my breath :(.

snotboogie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775108#Comment_121775108

Bringing the fight home gave him far more legitimacy.

Everlong1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121774984#Comment_121774984

Reminds me of the grim humour in the excuses the South African police used to routinely trot out after yet another black activist mysteriously died in custody. "Slipped in the shower" was a common one, used when Steve Biko was murdered.

aidanodr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775495#Comment_121775495

It really would not matter if Putin died. He is surrounded by worse - called the SILOVIKI - so be careful what you wish for I would say

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/04/putin-security-elite-siloviki-russia

sandbelter

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121775390#Comment_121775390

You need to understand the Russian (and Chinese mentality).

Since 1917 pretty much until today..... they would go to bed every night, nodding to their neighbours kitchens and bathrooms beforehand.

These were neighbours their children would play with, people they would pass small talk to about soccer, weather, swap tea, you get the picture.

Occasionally they would hear a knock on a door in the hallway, muffled voices, shuffling and silence.

Then they would get up the next morning and greet the new family that appeared across the hallway and who had overnight replaced their lifelong friends as if they were long term residents.

They have been doing this for over 110 years now.

They were and are too frightened to do anything else and year after year repetition of doing this is where their coldness and indifference has come from.

One of the effects of long term Communist rule on the psychology of the Russians is they are no longer their "brothers keeper".

This is a great interview with one of the Pussy Rioters - Nadya Tolokonnikova - about being a political dissident and Navalny, from a while back.

She helped get him to Berlin when he was poisoned.

https://www.martinanthonyfletcher.com/the-pussy-rioter-championing-navalny-times-magazine