The Murder of Alexei Navalny

Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader, was likely murdered by the Kremlin, with personal authorization from President Vladimir Putin. His death comes ahead of upcoming elections in Russia, allowing Putin to minimize any potential opposition protests. Additionally, Putin views international weakness, particularly in the US, as an opportunity to assert his power in Ukraine. Navalny was a significant figure in Russian politics, able to connect with people through social media and expose corruption within the Russian government, despite being barred from state television and conventional media resources. His poisoning and subsequent recovery in Germany garnered international attention, but upon returning to Russia, he was arrested and imprisoned. With Navalny's death, there is a lack of strong leadership in the opposition, making it difficult to mobilize large-scale protests.