Aleksei Navalny was born on June 4, 1976, near Moscow. After studying law and later economics, he began his political career with a nationalist approach, a stance he later repudiated after his conversion to Christianity. His activism evolved into a fight for justice and freedom against Vladimir Putin’s corrupt and authoritarian system.

In 2020, his political career took a dramatic turn when he was poisoned, an attack from which he miraculously recovered in Germany. Despite knowing the risks, he returned to Russia, where he was arrested and subjected to a series of political trials and transfers between prisons. Finally, he ended up in the maximum security penal colony of Harp, beyond the Arctic Circle. On February 16, 2024, after 300 days in solitary confinement, he died at the age of 47.

Navalny was a dissident who challenged Putin’s authoritarianism and also populism and corruption in Western democracies. Recently, a compilation of his reflections, interviews, judicial interventions, and writings from prison has been published. Entitled I am not afraid, do not be afraid of you, the book has been published by Ediciones Encuentro.

Beyond his activism, Navalny was a man deeply committed to three fundamental loves: his family, the common good, and his faith. From them he drew the strength to endure with hope and humor the political martyrdom he suffered.

A love for the common good

Navalny believed in the fight for ideas that are worth living for and dying for. He organized numerous demonstrations in Moscow, bringing together hundreds of thousands of people. But he insisted that the real change happened in the souls of those who took part. Before one such demonstration, he said:

“People often ask: What can this demonstration change? This demonstration will change us. It will change what you will tell your children and grandchildren when they ask you about this terrible period. We must go out into the streets for the love of ourselves. Then Russia will cease to be just a country and will be distinguished from the insane dictator, responsible for the mud that continues to dishonour our flag, our language and the very word Russia.”

At his political trials, Navalny took every opportunity to address his judges with courage. On one occasion, he confronted them, saying:

“If I were to photograph all three of you now, including the representatives of the so-called affected party, you would all lower your gaze. You always stare at the table when I address you. You have nothing to say. Likewise, you all say the same thing to me: ‘Aleksei Navalny, do you understand?’ I understand everything. But there is one thing I don’t understand: why do you keep lowering your gaze?”

A man of faith and hope

On his 45th birthday, from prison, he reflected on his situation with a mixture of humour and determination:

“I would rather not have to wake up in this kennel. I would like to have breakfast with my family, be kissed by my children and open presents. But life works in such a way that social progress and a better future are achieved only if a certain number of people are willing to pay a price for their right to have convictions. The more people there are, the less everyone will pay, and the day will come when telling the truth and standing up for justice in Russia will be normal and not dangerous.”

A year before his death, on the occasion of his 46th birthday, he wrote:

“Today I am 46 years old and I feel great. There are things that could be improved, of course, but that applies to everyone. I am very happy. I have a family that I love, intelligent colleagues who continue our common work. And above all, I have an immense and rare privilege: in today’s Russia, I say what I think is right and do what I think is necessary. The infamous scoundrels in the Kremlin have no power over me, even if they have locked me in a hole.”

Aleksei Navalny was a man who fought to the end for justice and freedom. His legacy will live on as a testament to courage, faith and commitment to the common good.