Widow of Russian opposition leader asks those in exile to take to streets

Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, speaks during the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany, Friday, Feb. 16, 2024. (Kai Pfaffenbach/Pool Photo via AP)

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, on Sunday called on exiled Russians to take to the streets in place of those unable to back home.

“We must come out (to protest) for those people in Russia who can’t,” Navalnaya said in a Berlin church, speaking on the first anniversary of her husband’s death in prison.

She also thanked Navalny’s supporters who had paid their respects to him in Russia despite the risk of reprisals.

“People who come out in such a situation are very brave and I’m very grateful to them,” she said.

Navalnaya also called on Navalny’s supporters to attend an anti-war rally organised by Russian opposition figures in Berlin on March 1.

People in Russia “are afraid to end up in jail”, said Navalnaya, who is living in exile and declared an “extremist” back home.

“Not everyone can be heroes,” she added.

Navalny has been declared “extremist” by Russian authorities.

In Russia, anybody who mentions Navalny or his Anti-Corruption Foundation without stating that they have been declared “extremist” is subject to fines or up to four years in prison for repeated offences

“Here of course we can feel free but people in Russia are hostages to the regime,” said Navalnaya.

She and other opposition supporters wanted to return to Russia “as soon as possible... and build a normal life in Russia,” she added.

“I don’t feel despair... it’s very important not to give up.”

Agence France-Presse