Statement by Taisiya Bekbulatova, editor-in-chief of the Russian media outlet 《Холода》
We all know that Navalny’s death was a political assassination. The authoritarian regime has taken almost everything away from Russians: it has taken away the future of prosperity, the belief in the rights that everyone should have and cannot be deprived of. It has deprived us of the right to protest and resist, and it has taken away our right to vote. Navalny’s murder shows that he tried to take away the last glimmer of hope from Russian society.
Navalny was the living symbol of a free Russia, showing that a prosperous and peaceful Russia is possible. Change is inevitable, it just takes a little effort. Navalny saw autocracy and corruption as an unfortunate misunderstanding that could be quickly corrected by putting the country back on the path of normal development. He believed it himself, and he made others believe it.
This unwavering belief – in himself, in Russia and its people – was his superpower. It was this belief that prompted him to return to Russia, despite knowing that he could be imprisoned or even killed. This belief inspired his supporters and frightened those in power. Because you can’t beat a person who laughs – even if he is emaciated, even if he is in a cage, even if he is imprisoned in a small village in the Arctic Circle. You can only choose to kill him.
Navalny’s murder is not only a tragedy for his family and friends, but also a tragedy for the whole of Russia. This is one of the darkest days in the history of our country. But no matter how difficult and hopeless the current state and future of Russia may seem, one thing must be clear – our hope still exists, and no one can kill it. Because “this is our country, we have no choice”.
Statement by the Russian media outlet 《DOXA》 on the death of Navalny
On January 17, 2021, Alexei Navalny returned to Russia after Putin’s attempt to assassinate him and was arrested at the airport. Protests in support of him immediately broke out across Russia, and students of all grades marched for Navalny’s freedom. 《DOXA》 is a student publication that has been reporting for many years on how the authorities suppress students’ political freedoms. In January 2021, this large-scale intimidation reached its peak, becoming a systematic campaign affecting hundreds of universities and schools. We spoke out and made videos to support our peers, telling them they were not alone.
Therefore, the Russian authorities filed criminal charges against four journalists in 2021 and intimidated the editorial staff of the magazine, but we have never regretted supporting Alexei and standing up for the students. On February 24, 2022, Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and the imprisoned Navalny spoke out against the war in court.
On February 16, 2024, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia announced the death of Alexei Navalny. We believe this was a murder. Navalny’s heroism inspired our generation of young Russians who yearn to live in a peaceful, democratic society without inequality. Alexei proved that the struggle can continue even under the worst conditions.
Over the past three years, many of our peers who marched for Alexei’s freedom in 2021 have personally experienced what it means to stand up for their views. The Russian authorities have carried out imprisonment, torture and killings. After Alexei’s murder, we can only live with his legacy. “Don’t give up” is the political testament he left in the film 《2022》. We will continue to support political prisoners, advocate for peace, and strive to build a democratic society where inequality, war and repression are a thing of the past.
At the same time, we express our support and condolences to Alexei Navalny’s family, friends and colleagues.
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