"To do everything so that Navalny's dream of a free Russia does not die with him, but that he wins in the shortest historical perspective"

The murder of Alexei Navalny in prison is a heinous crime that will inevitably affect the future history of Russia. Navalny died in the fight against tyranny, and this battle is still going on. And we must do everything so that Navalny's dream of a free Russia not only does not die with him, but also wins in the shortest historical perspective, writes the manifesto of the civil movement "Peace. Progress. Human Rights", prepared by human rights activist Lev Ponomarev and his colleagues, and published Novaya Gazeta Evropa, transfers Today.

The text evaluates the political legacy of Alexei Navalny, and the authors call for support for Yulia Navalny, Alexei's wife, and the action "Noon Against Putin", which is planned by the Russian opposition on election day, March 17.

"Putin humiliated and insulted Russia, turning it into a totalitarian state that destroys human freedom and humanity itself in all its manifestations. He committed a crime against Russia, trampling on the foundations of its constitutional order. The historical task of the Russians is to remove Putin from power and restore the Constitution in its main provisions," the manifesto reads.

Alexei Navalny could have given an answer in advance what to do if he was killed.

"Don't give up. If that happened (my death), it means that we are unusually strong at this moment, since they decided to kill me..."

Alexei's words, which are quoted by many today, came true like a prophecy: he was killed at a time when our forces were growing, and Putin was really weakening.

No matter how difficult the international situation seems today, Putin is losing popularity in Russia. We see the consolidation of the Russians from below, we see civic activities in the regions, and we feel a strong desire to end the war and return to normality.

It is a request for a political alternative and political action, it is stated.

People of democratic and anti-war views, despite any disagreements in the opposition, agreed to go to the polls on March 17 at 12 noon.

"Noon against Putin"

The call for support for "Noon against Putin" was Navalny's last political statement. Perhaps it was she who put an end to the decision to take his life.

Therefore, let this assassination put an end to the tactical differences of the anti-war democratic forces, both inside and outside of Russia. By killing Navalny, Putin made him a symbol of the united democratic opposition, the manifesto says.

Every Russian has the opportunity to express their opinion about what is happening by going to their polling station on March 17 at noon, by writing Navalny's name on the ballot and voting for any candidate except Putin (or for all at once, except Putin). .

The opposition should continue the work of Navalny

First. We must provide maximum assistance to Navalny's mother, his relatives and associates in ensuring that Alexei Navalny is buried in accordance with his family's wishes, and everyone can say goodbye to him and pay his last respects.

We must make every effort to save lives and secure the release of other Putin prisoners who remain in Russian prisons. First of all, it refers to Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is in a colony in the Omsk region, actually, for life, against the background of critical health problems. We must show complete unity in our demands to both the Russian authorities and the authorities of the anti-Putin coalition countries.

Second. Yulija Navalny announced her intention to continue her husband's work. We must give her maximum support and build a broad coalition of anti-war forces with her participation.

Third. We have to make sure that "Noon Against Putin" becomes a real mass story. Only mass participation gives a chance to influence the situation. So let's make sure that all of Russia lines up at the polling stations, and that the whole world sees it.

Everyone can work for this goal: politicians, journalists, human rights defenders, experts, ordinary activists and supporters of changes in Russia.

Work to strengthen the overall effect, not weaken it. All differences between the various opposition groups must be discarded or overcome. We, both those who left and those who remained in Russia, have a common country, a common misfortune, common goals and a common enemy.

We are now entering a decisive phase of a broad civil campaign for change and change of government in the country.

The task of the opposition in these weeks is to be with the Russians, to offer them relatively safe options for action, to amplify their voice as much as possible, and to agitate the doubters.

The campaign material against Putin as a presidential candidate is extensive, it is said.

War and repression caused maximum damage to all spheres of life in Russia: the population is impoverished, medicine and education are degrading.

Civilian industry is in decline. Dissatisfaction with the war and mobilization is growing, with tens of thousands of people killed. Even more men are cut off from their families and excluded from the economy.

The movement of mobilized women is growing, demanding that their husbands return home and cancel mobilization. This is not only a humanitarian disaster, but also a path to the degradation and decline of Russian society and the state.

The Russian opposition, which is abroad, should take a closer look at the activity that is now taking place in Russia and contribute to it as much as possible.

Will all this affect the people around Putin?

The sense of disaster and personal danger today should be shared not only by the opposition and opponents of the war, but also by people in positions in the government and even in Putin's inner circle.

Elite purges will continue, the economy will shrink, and repression will grow, eventually inevitably affecting even those who still feel they are the masters of life.

Repression under Stalin in the 1937s gradually spread to the party and powerful elite. The purges took place after the assassination of Kirov (Sergei Kirov, one of Stalin's inner circle, the first secretary of the Leningrad regional committee and the party's city committee) who had a popularity comparable to Stalin's, and reached their peak in XNUMX, when the party was preparing for the next Soviet and party elections.

From the speech at the March plenum of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks), it was felt that Stalin's supporters could lose the elections.

They were also afraid of losing the coming "Great War". On Stalin's orders, the head of the NKVD (Soviet secret police), Yezhov (Nikolaj), unleashed the Great Terror after the March Plenum.

As a result, of the 73 people who spoke at the plenum, the 50 who raised Stalin's fears were doomed. They were arrested and then killed in the summer of 1937.

The Great Terror ended in September-November 1938.

Only a blind person will not see the analogies with the situation that has now developed. It must be understood that no one is invulnerable to repression as long as Putin is at the head of the state.

First of all, people who are members of the administrative and political elite of Russia and the leadership of the security forces can prevent modern purges. And, maybe you save not only hundreds of thousands of ordinary people, but also yourself.

Funeral on Friday

The funeral of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny will take place on Friday in Moscow, his spokeswoman said earlier today.

The funeral will be held in a church in the south-eastern Moscow district of Marzhino on Friday afternoon, Kira Yarmush said yesterday.

Navalny will be buried in a nearby cemetery.

Navalny (47) died on February 16 in one of the strictest Russian penal colonies where he was serving a 19-year sentence. Russian authorities have announced that the cause of his death is still unknown, and the results of the investigation are likely to be questioned abroad, AP writes.

Many Western leaders have already said they hold Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for Navalny's death.

Navalny has been in prison since January 2021, when he returned to Moscow after recovering in Germany from nerve agent poisoning blamed on the Kremlin. After his arrest, he was sentenced to three prison sentences, on several charges, all of which he dismissed as political.

Navalny's team announced earlier that the opposition activist was "killed".

The body of Alexei Navalny, which his relatives have been searching for from Russian authorities for more than a week, was handed over to his mother on Saturday.