One year on: Did democratic opposition in Russia die with Alexei Navalny?

[Kittens Are Jerks]

A year after Alexei Navalny's suspicious death in a Russian prison, his supporters have been helping choose a headstone for his grave in Moscow. "It will be a place of hope and strength for all those who dream of the wonderful Russia of the future," says the opposition politician's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, quoting one of his best-known phrases.

Revealing her shortlist of designs in a video last week, she hoped the grave would become somewhere that those who oppose Vladimir Putin go "to remember they are not alone". Navalnaya now lives abroad, facing arrest if she were to return to Russia. Her words capture just how far ambitions have shrunk.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgly78j5ny8o

[Alchopwn]

While Navalny was recognized as the public voice of opposition to Putin, he was also pretty politically naive and could never have effectively led a nation as cynical and corrupt as the Russian Federation.  Hopefully Navalny's assassination will cause someone else to step up as the need and opportunity arises.  On the other hand, I suspect the orcs will only accept a Dark Lord.

[Kittens Are Jerks]

Alexei Navalny supporters visit grave on first anniversary of his death

European leaders have condemned the Kremlin’s “ultimate responsibility” in the death of Alexei Navalny, as supporters of Russia’s best-known opposition politician held remembrance events a year after he died in an Arctic penal colony.

A steady queue of people braved freezing temperatures and possible arrest in Moscow to visit Navalny’s grave in Borisovskoye cemetery, while his widow, Yulia Navalnaya, was due to address a memorial ceremony in Berlin, where she is living in exile.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/16/alexei-navalny-supporters-visit-grave-on-first-anniversary-of-his-death