Portrait of Alexei Navalny
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Alexei Navalny on Russia-Ukraine War

Strong opponent of invasion (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Alexei Navalny was a vociferous opponent of Russia's invasion, calling it a criminal war unleashed by the president to distract citizens.

Key Points

  • He publicly condemned the invasion on February 24, 2022, during a court hearing, asking for his statement against the war to be recorded.

  • He advocated that Russia must withdraw all troops from Ukraine and recognize the country's borders as established in 1991, alongside paying post-war reparations.

  • In March 2014, he stated that Crimea, though illegally annexed, was part of Russia and would not be returned in the near future, a position later reversed.

Summary

Alexei Navalny condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine from prison, calling it a "stupid war" and a crime against his country, which was launched to divert Russian citizens' attention from domestic problems. From the outset of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, he urged Russians to protest daily, stating that they should not be a "nation of frightened cowards" and be willing to fill the jails to fight for peace. He also called for the removal of the president, asserting that the president is not Russia and that Russia must recognize Ukraine's 1991 borders and pay reparations after the conflict ends.

His views on Ukraine's territorial integrity evolved significantly; in 2014, he controversially stated that Crimea, despite being seized illegally, was part of Russia and not like a "sandwich" to be flipped back. However, by February 2023, he publicly advocated for Russia to withdraw all troops and recognize Ukraine's internationally recognized borders established in 1991, thereby backing off his previous statements and acknowledging that Crimea must be returned to Ukraine. He also called for an international investigation into war crimes committed during the aggression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Alexei Navalny was a strong opponent of the war, condemning it as a criminal invasion unleashed by the president. From prison, he urged Russian citizens to protest daily against the aggression.

Yes, his position on Ukraine's territorial integrity evolved significantly. Initially, he suggested Crimea would remain part of Russia after its 2014 annexation, but later he called for Russia to recognize Ukraine's 1991 borders.

He stated that the war was launched to cover up the theft from Russian citizens and divert their attention from internal problems. He characterized the reasons given by the president as "pseudo-historic nonsense."