Yulia Navalnaya Hopes Putin Will Go From ‘Tsar’ to ‘Prisoner’

LONDON — Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has expressed her hope that President Vladimir Putin will one day be transformed from the “tsar” of Russia into an “ordinary prisoner.” In a candid interview with The Sunday Times, Mrs. Navalnaya discussed her late husband’s legacy and vowed to continue his fight against the Kremlin, despite the personal risks involved.

Alexei Navalny, Putin’s most prominent political opponent, died in February under unclear circumstances while serving a sentence in an Arctic prison. His widow, now 48, revealed in the interview that she had never discussed leading Russia’s opposition movement with her husband, but felt a personal responsibility to carry on his work.

“I think he would love to keep me far from these political, dangerous things,” she said. Yet, she added, “But you just realize you don’t have a choice… I would never give up on Russia.”

Mrs. Navalnaya, who has lived in Germany for many years, stated that she has no plans to return to Russia until it is safe to do so, saying, “I won’t be imprisoned in an airport like Alexei.” Russia added her to its list of “terrorists” and “extremists” in July, and issued an arrest warrant, making her return even more perilous.

Navalny’s widow, who will release her husband’s posthumous memoir on October 22, also expressed her disdain for Putin, though she insisted she did not hate him. “I want him to go from being a kind of tsar of Russia to an ordinary prisoner in Russia,” she said, referencing her husband’s imprisonment.

Reflecting on Mr. Navalny’s decision to return to Russia in January 2021, which led to his immediate arrest, Mrs. Navalnaya explained that she had supported his choice. “It’s his life, it’s his choice, it’s his beliefs,” she said. “To persuade him to stay in exile, I would feel much more guilty.”

Mrs. Navalnaya, however, remains skeptical about any potential negotiations involving Putin. Referring to previous discussions around a potential prisoner swap before her husband’s death, she said, “He [Putin] all the time lies. That’s why I never thought it could happen tomorrow.”

In the months since Mr. Navalny’s death, the Kremlin has intensified its crackdown on those affiliated with the opposition leader’s movement. At least nine more people connected to Navalny, including his former spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh and the chair of his Anti-Corruption Foundation Maria Pevchikh, have been added to Russia’s extremist blacklist.

Despite the dangers, Mrs. Navalnaya remains resolute in her determination to continue her husband’s legacy. “You just realize you don’t have a choice,” she concluded, underscoring her unwavering commitment to the fight for justice in Russia.