Navalny was martyred: don’t lose faith in his values. Roger Federer’s image abroad is cracking – “unusual greed”

It’s like a movie where you want to warn the hero, “Don’t do it!”, but you know full well that he can’t be stopped from his plan.

After Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok in 2020 and regained consciousness in Berlin’s Charité clinic after several weeks in an induced coma, he did not remain in exile. He returned to his homeland, although he was fully aware of the arbitrariness of the Russian regime and Putin’s hatred of him.

The Russian president would probably have preferred that Navalny had remained in exile in Germany. Because someone who is willing to sacrifice his life without hesitation for a better Russia is, despite all his power, an unpleasant opponent.

As soon as Navalny was in Russia, what happened happened: he was arrested. “I’m not afraid of anything,” Navalny said as he was led away by officers. Since then he has been in prison or in a prison camp. During public court appearances, he took the opportunity to use his media presence to create a mood for opposition to Putin.

The physical and psychological suffering inflicted on him in captivity was visible. During a hearing calling for better prison conditions, he said: “I am given two disgusting pieces of bread and two cups of boiling water. And I am forced to suffocate in this boiling water.”

Why would anyone voluntarily return to a country where they know such things will be done to them? Probably only if two things come together: if his life is worth less to him than justice for a great cause. And if he is willing to do so, endure incredible pain.

However, the Russian opposition figure died, whether he was killed deliberately or because his strength failed him in captivity: Navalny died a martyr’s death.

He gave his life for democracy and freedom. And ultimately for everyone who shares these values ​​with him.

This should not be in vain. Hopefully it wasn’t in vain. That the Russian people will take courage and strength from this to stand up against the government and show that Russia and Putin are not the same. And Navalny’s death should also be a wake-up call for Western countries to more strongly support Ukraine in the war against Putin.