Daily: PUTIN’S NEMESIS? Navalny’s Big Gamble, with Luke Harding

When opposition figurehead and recovered Novichok target Alexei Navalny flew back to Russia to lead democracy protests, he took an enormous personal risk, of which instant imprisonment was only a part. Could Navalny’s mix of street demos and slick social media mockery really destabilise Putin’s regime? Luke Harding, author of Shadow State : Murder, Mayhem and Russia's Remaking of the West, explains the background to Navalny’s gamble… and the meaning of the casino, nightclub and “aqua-discotheque” in ‘Putin’s Palace’. 

• “Navalny shone a light on corruption – not just by Putin, but his friends.” 
• “Navalny’s return to Russia was one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen.” 
• “Putin is a dictator. It’s a tired old show that Russians are tired of watching.” 
• “Navalny’s popularity is clearly growing. If you can get people to protest in minus fifty, you must be cutting through.”  

Presented and produced by Andrew Harrison. Assistant producers: Jelena Sofronijevic  and Jacob Archbold. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Audio production by Alex Rees. The Bunker is a Podmasters Production

See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices