Prominent Putin Critic Alexei Navalny Detained Upon Arrival Into Russia

Alexei Navalny, Putin’s lead political opponent, was detained at Sheremetyevo airport after flying back to Russia from Germany, where he had been recovering from a nerve agent attack. Navalny holds the Russian authorities responsible for the attack, however, the Kremlin deny any role. Navalny’s allegations have been supported by reports from investigative journalists.

As he entered the airport terminal Navalny briefly tells journalists that he is happy that he has arrived back in Russia and said it is the “best day in the last five months.” He criticised authorities for diverting his plane, apologising to other passengers and maintaining he was not afraid of arrest. Russian prison authorities confirm the reasoning for Navalny’s detention due to him violating his probation, this detention is to last thirty days with the potential for long term jail. Navalny was arrested at passport control and was not allowed to have his lawyer join him.

Alexei Navalny is the face of Russian opposition to current President Vladimir Putin with his campaigns against government corruption. Navalny says the ruling party, United Russia, is full of “crooks and thieves” accusing the president of “sucking the blood out of Russia” through his concentration of power in the Kremlin. Navalny has led protests across the country against the government and has even managed to get some of his supporters elected to local councils in Siberia in 2020.

(Source: BBC)

He has struggled to challenge Putin directly at the polls, as he was barred from running as a candidate in the 2018 presidential election because of his conviction by a Russian court for embezzlement. Navalny denies the accusations stating it was part of the Kremlin aiming to silence his resilient criticisms of the government.

Navalny’s campaign against Putin and the Russian authorities becomes personal after he accuses the president of organising state agents to poison him, in an attack in August 2020 which nearly killed him. The poisoning captured international headlines last summer, where Navalny collapsed on a plane in a flight over Siberia. A German-based charity fought for Navalny to be treated in Berlin.

On September 2nd, 2020, the German government released test results carried out by their military, which found “unequivocal proof of a chemical nerve warfare agent of the Novichok group.” This was the same chemical weapon that nearly killed former Russian spy and his daughter, Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury, England in March 2018. The Kremlin denied any state involvement with the attack and sustains its non-involvement in the Novichok allegation. Putin did admit to having Navalny under surveillance because he alleged that U.S. spies were helping him. Navalny also secured further proof by posing a Russian security official and recorded a phone call confession from a state agency.

As events unfold currently, human rights organisation, Amnesty International has declared Navalny a prisoner of conscience. The U.S. and several European countries have demanded the release of Navalny. U.S Secretary of State Mike Pompeo calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of Navalny, stating that “confident political leaders do not fear competing voices, nor commit violence against or wrongfully detain political opponents.”

The Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov dismissed these demands saying that Western politicians were using Navalny’s case as a story to deflect away from domestic issues. On the morning of Monday 18th January, a video was shared to Navalny’s Twitter by his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, where Navalny says he doesn’t understand what is going on. He remains confused as to the filming and the court session being held in the police station, further criticising the government calling it the “highest level of lawlessness.”

Navalny’s return to Russia has created a direct challenge to Putin and his power. A Kremlin spokesman stands firm in that Putin is not afraid of Navalny. However, Navalny’s return has sparked protests planned to take place on Saturday, with Moscow officials keeping a close eye this and are likely to block them from happening. The world is watching Navalny’s return, from journalists to human rights groups and politicians globally. Putin’s actions against the politician and activist will be held under a high level of global scrutiny.

To keep up to date with the latest commercial news, click on commercial awareness to get your daily dose.