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The Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny marches on Tverskaya street in 2017. Photo: Evgeny Feldman wikimedia.org
As a
result of anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny’s recent transformation into
a significant factor in Russian politics, much attention has been given to his
personal history. Delving into Navalny’s past has led many observers, however,
to express doubts about the Russian opposition politician. A number of Navalny’s
older, clearly nationalist statements are now frequently discussed in press
reports. This is particularly true in Ukraine, where Navalny’s unclear position
on the country’s independence and the future of Crimea has generated
Alexei Navalny is a Russian nationalist but he may still be good news for Ukraine UkraineAlert by Andreas Umland
Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny appears in court in Moscow on February 2, 2021. (Press service of Simonovsky District Court/Handout via REUTERS)
The failed poisoning and subsequent imprisonment of Alexei Navalny has catapulted the Russian anti-corruption activist to the top of the international agenda in recent months. This has served to fuel renewed interest in his biography, and not everybody has been impressed by what they have uncovered.
Inevitably, attention has focused on Navalny’s unpalatable past associations with Russian nationalism. His outspoken comments on topics such as immigration and his use of ethnic slurs have led many to question Navalny’s suitability as a potential alternative to the authoritarian rule of Vladimir Putin.