Today, Explained Biden vs. Putin (feat. Navalny)
Apr 27, 2021
In this discussion, Amy McKinnon, a Foreign Policy reporter who has covered Alexei Navalny extensively, dives deep into the tense U.S.-Russia relations under President Biden. She highlights Navalny's courageous stand against the Kremlin, including his refusal of prison food that posed a moral challenge for Western governments. The conversation touches on the implications of Navalny’s situation for global democracy, the fallout from his poisoning and arrest, and the broader strategic dynamics between the United States and Russia.
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Navalny's Story
- Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader, has been a vocal critic of Putin.
- He was poisoned with Novichok in 2020, recovered in Germany, and was arrested upon returning to Russia.
Navalny's Arrest
- Navalny's 2014 conviction for defrauding a French cosmetics company's subsidiary resulted in a suspended sentence and his brother's imprisonment.
- His arrest upon returning to Russia was justified by the authorities, claiming he violated parole by not checking in while in Germany.
Navalny's Hunger Strike
- Navalny's hunger strike while imprisoned was a strategic move to demand proper medical care for severe back pain.
- This tactic, combined with social media updates, kept pressure on the regime despite limited options.