On February 16, Alexei Navalny, the leader of the Russian opposition, died at the age of 47 in a new Arctic Circle jail in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where he was serving a 19-year sentence. Several state media outlets reported that a blood clot killed him. Many state propagandists and some state officials, such as Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, blamed the U.S. and E.U. for Navalny’s demise. However, many people in the Russian opposition believe that Alexei was killed, and that Putin personally ordered it.

It is hard to overestimate the influence that Navalny's actions have had on the Russian population and protest movements. For years, Alexei Navalny has been exposing corruption among top officials and those affiliated with them. In addition, his active participation in political life, including elections, rallies, debates, and the 'Smart Voting' project, has kept the current government on its toes for years.

 Yesterday, Russian speakers across the globe organized spontaneous rallies to express their grief, anger, and solidarity. Thousands of people in Russia also gathered to create memorials dedicated to Navalny. Unfortunately, over 100 citizens were detained by the police due to the spontaneous nature of such gatherings.

Nevertheless, on February 17, even more Russian speakers around the world will gather again to honor the memory of Alexei Navalny.

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