He Never Called Him By His Name

Yeah yeah, I just picked up a new book that’s getting great reviews. It’s called Alexei Navalny. Patriot. I’ve admired Navalny for years. He was the Russian opposition leader to Putin and organized many political demonstrations against him. He once described the ruling Russian party as a party of crooks and thieves. Putin would never call him by his name.

 

Navalny was barred from running in the 2018 presidential election because he was an enemy of the state. It’d be a different world today if he’d run and won. Putin had him poisoned but he survived after being shuttled off to Berlin. Once he recovered, he came back to Russia to fight another day. That didn’t last long. He was arrested upon arrival. They later sent him to an Artic penal colony, probably the worst prison in the world. The guards starved him, punished him, and denied him medical attention. Then on February 16, 2024, he died after taking a walk. Putin couldn’t kill him with poison, but he finally silenced him this time. He was 47.

You know, Navalny really fits JFK’s Profiles In Courage, which describes leaders who demonstrated bravery and integrity. It’s worth grabbing this book. It’s inspiring in a world that’s often not.  Even after eight months, Navalny’s grave is still covered in fresh flowers. They come every day.

Keep your dukes up.


 

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