MARCH 2024 BLOG - SACRIFICE

 

Alexei Navalny - SACRIFICE

Introduction

The concept of "sacrifice" holds different meanings in the realms of human relationships and politics.

• In Human Relationships: Personal Sacrifice: In interpersonal relationships, sacrifice often refers to an individual willingly giving up something for the benefit of others. This could be one's time, personal desires, or even material possessions. It is often seen as a selfless act aimed at nurturing the well-being of others, demonstrating care, and building stronger connections.

• Compromise: Sacrifice in relationships may also involve compromise, where individuals make concessions for the sake of harmony and mutual understanding. This could involve finding middle ground on differing opinions or adjusting personal preferences to accommodate the needs and desires of others.

• Emotional Sacrifice: Emotional sacrifice in relationships may entail putting aside personal emotions or needs to support a partner, friend, or family member during challenging times. It reflects a commitment to the overall health and happiness of the relationship.

• In Politics: National Interest: In politics, sacrifice is often associated with the greater good of the nation or community. Leaders may make decisions that involve personal or collective sacrifice to advance the well-being of the larger population. This could include economic policies, security measures, or diplomatic actions.

• Leadership Sacrifice: Political leaders may be called upon to make personal sacrifices for the benefit of their country. This could involve risking their own safety, reputation, or popularity to make decisions that align with the long-term interests of the nation.

• Social Sacrifice: Political movements or revolutions may require sacrifices from individuals for the sake of social change. Activists, for instance, may endure personal hardships or put themselves at risk to advocate for political, social, or economic reforms.

In this blog I am reflecting about the great Sacrifice how the Russian Opposition leader has contributed not only to the people of Russia but to the whole world and I note that his death is not in vain, and his spirit will live forever.

 

NAVLNY:    June 1976 – 16 February 2024) was a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and political prisoner. He organised anti-government demonstrations and ran for office to advocate reforms against corruption in Russia and against President Vladimir Putin and his government. Navalny was founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). He was recognised by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience and was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights.

Through his social media channels, Navalny and his team published material about corruption in Russia, organised political demonstrations and promoted his campaigns. In a 2011 radio interview, he described Russia's ruling party, United Russia, as a "party of crooks and thieves", which became a popular epithet. Navalny and the FBK have published investigations detailing alleged corruption by high-ranking Russian officials and their associates.

Navalny twice received a suspended sentence for embezzlement, in 2013 and 2014. Both criminal cases were widely considered politically motivated and intended to bar him from running in future elections. He ran in the 2013 Moscow mayoral election and came in second with 27% of the vote but was barred from running in the 2018 presidential election.

In August 2020, Navalny was hospitalised in serious condition after being poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. He was medically evacuated to Berlin and discharged a month later. Navalny accused Putin of being responsible for his poisoning, and an investigation implicated agents from the Federal Security Service. In January 2021, Navalny returned to Russia and was immediately detained on accusations of violating parole conditions while he was hospitalised in Germany. Following his arrest, mass protests were held across Russia. In February 2021, his suspended sentence was replaced with a prison sentence of over two and a half years' detention, and his organisations were later designated as extremist and liquidated. In March 2022, Navalny was sentenced to an additional nine years in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement and contempt of court in a new trial described as a sham by Amnesty International; his appeal was rejected and in June, he was transferred to a high-security prison. In August 2023, Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in prison on extremism charges.

In December 2023, Navalny went missing from prison for almost three weeks. He re-emerged in an Arctic Circle corrective colony in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. On 16 February 2024, the Russian prison service reported that Navalny had died at the age of 47. His death sparked protests, both in Russia and in various other countries. Accusations against the Russian authorities in connection with his death have been made by Western governments and international organisations.

Another article by Quilette:

https://quillette.com/2024/02/23/alexei-navalny-1976-2024