How A.Navalno’s death could change the situation in Russia: assesses political scientist I.Preobrazhenskis

According to the political expert, when assessing the situation, it does not matter at all whether A. Navalno’s death was a contract killing or not.

“He was killed by a criminal regime. It was a murder, whether he died of so-called natural causes, or was poisoned, “taken” in some other way.

The inhumane conditions in which he was forced to be imprisoned, constant psychological pressure, torture – all this was a trend towards long-term human destruction. So, in any case, he was killed,” emphasized I. Preobraženskis.

Personal archive photo/Ivanas Preobraženskis

According to him, the sudden transfer of A.Navalno to a correctional colony in the Arctic at the end of last year and other actions suggest that it was a planned murder after all.

“It is quite clear that we will never know the real truth, because in such cases the perpetrators also “disappear” somewhere.

But just transferring him to prison in such harsh conditions already indicated the intention to kill him slowly. It was only a matter of time.

Why wasn’t it done earlier? Apparently, up to a certain point, he was considered a useful hostage. Now, apparently, there were no such things anymore,” said the expert.

Reuters/Scanpix photo/Aleksejus Navalnas

The West will lack courage

Asked to assess whether Western countries could take decisive action and give an appropriate response, the political scientist said that there is neither the will nor the ability to do so.

“The West is not ready to take more decisive actions than what has been done so far.

All possible sanctions are already applied, and they have no intention of not recognizing the results of the Russian elections, that is, not recognizing Vladimir Putin as the President of Russia,” asserted I. Preobraženskis.

Death is useful for V. Putin

According to a Russian expert, the death of one of his main opponents will have little effect on the current president of the country, even as he prepares for the upcoming elections.

“In any case, A. Navalno’s death is useful for him. I think that soon we will see how he, while hiding his joy, will show it.

A. Navalnas was his personal enemy. Even from the political point of view, I am in favor of him, because he is the only person who was at least a real potential alternative to him and whom even the representatives of the ruling elite of Russia considered in such a role, he is no longer there. And when another such prominent political figure will appear, it is not at all clear,” the political scientist asserted.

A. Preobrazhenskis assessed the future prospects of the Russian opposition, and how this loss could affect that country.

“A. Navalnas played a huge role in the fight against the regime, even when he was behind bars. However, the main problem of the Russian opposition remains the war in Ukraine, and from this point of view, nothing has changed. Although yes, it will be more difficult for the opposition to fight without such a significant and prominent leader,” the political scientist stated.

According to I. Preobrazhenski, political processes in Russia are difficult to predict recently, and it is difficult to guess whether the death of an opposition member could be the last straw for the nation.

“It is difficult to predict what could become a catalyst for mass protests, but I am afraid that even in this case, A. Navalno’s death will not be able to encourage citizens to mass protests,” the expert assessed.

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