Daughter Navalny about her father: ‘He challenges Putin every day’ Rebel group M23 in eastern Congo declares willing to withdraw

The daughter of Russia’s most well-known opposition leader Alexei Navalny addressed world leaders in a guest post: “He challenges Putin every day, but together we can ensure that his efforts are not in vain and that his words are heard around the world.” Dasha Navalnaya in the American news magazine “Time” calls for support for her father’s release.

“I am a 21-year-old student at Stanford University,” the post reads. “My father – Alexei Navalny, became Putin’s biggest enemy.” Navalny was poisoned with the neurotoxin Novichok in August 2020, treated at the Berlin Charité and survived. He was arrested when he returned to his home country and has been in prison since 2021. The Kremlin critic was sentenced to nine years in prison for alleged fraud. Navalny denies the allegations. The ruling of the Russian court has been criticized for being politically motivated.

To you, these are just headlines

“To you, these are just headlines. For me it is the reality », writes his daughter. For her, her father is not only a determined and charismatic leader, but also “a fun, caring and incredible father”. He taught her how to ride a bike, helped with math equations and grammar questions. “When I first tried to cook oatmeal during my school days, which turned out to be way too salty, my dad smiled, didn’t discourage me, and ate the whole thing.”

Now she describes the cruel conditions of her father’s imprisonment, whom no one is allowed to visit and who is not allowed to write her letters. He was also denied confidential exchanges with his lawyer. This is also reported by the human rights organization Amnesty International. Navalnaya writes, “The conditions of solitary confinement he is now subjected to are clearly designed to mentally break him down and kill him physically.”

“Putin treats him with personal hatred”

She is proud to be Navalny’s daughter – “knowing that, despite the inhumane conditions, he opposed Putin’s war in Ukraine and called on the Russian people to do everything in their power to oppose him.” to fight.” He uses every appellate hearing as an opportunity to make an anti-war statement. Even when his life in prison is in danger, he sticks to what he believes.

“He has shown that he is ready to sacrifice his freedom, his health and even his life to make Russia a democratic, prosperous country,” Navalnaya said. Putin is ready to destroy anyone who seriously threatens his power. He treats her father with personal hatred.

(t-online, lib)