"Whatever story they tell, let us be clear, Russia is responsible." ~Kamala Harris, Vice President, United States of America in Munich
In light of Friday’s reported death of Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison and Putin’s quashing of opposition candidate, Boris Nadezhdin’s candidacy, it is imperative that we recognize and combat perhaps the most effective tool of the Kremlin in thwarting successful democracy - changing the narrative.
Putin is artfully skilled in drawing attention away from his failures, whether it be in country or abroad.
Alexei Navalny attends court hearing February 2024. Photo: Screen capture
And the death of one of his opponents, whether by window, imprisonment, a trip to the front lines, a downed plane, or a simple cup of tea - death is a favored device in his toolbox, invoking fear and outrage, while providing a necessary smokescreen for his failure, or more importantly the success of a perceived enemy elsewhere.
While the world waits for parsed news on what ultimately happened to Alexei Navalny in bringing his life to an end (truth of which we may never know), it is crucial that we focus on the things Putin and his anti-democracy network malign.
The people must report and share news of the free-world’s coming together to support Ukraine, the integrity of its culture, their sovereignty, Ukrainian democracy.
The people committed to the tenets of a free press must expose the intricate relationships between Russia and its network of anti-United States, anti-democracy, anti-EU, anti-NATO, as the deadly authoritarian, communist and terrorist enemies of free society they hold themselves out to be.
"Make no mistake. Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. Putin does not only target citizens of other countries, as we see in what is going on in Ukraine right now. He also inflicts terrible crimes on his own people." ~ President Joseph R. Biden, United States of America
Free people have the ability to individually and collectively deny Russia its attempts to thwart free press, free and fair elections.
It’s time to free our democracies of those who deny the rights of people in favor of authoritarian puppets, those who seed free society with democratic imposters.
Munich is happening. Democracies are coming together. NATO is expanding.
Putin would have you focus on Navalny’s death, the ugly reality of his fear-induced power.
Genocide in Ukraine is happening. It is not going as well as Putin would like. A decade since the 2014 invasion, the anniversary of his failed 3-day excursion upon us.
The atrocities in Ukraine, so abhorrent people turn away, forget, normalize or worse, replace with yet another of Putin-laden wars are not "their" problem. Putin's existence and power is our problem, all of us.
Overlord and Overload
The beast is at the door for some, at arm’s length for others. But it is marching forward, collecting more terror-mongers, destroying cultures in its advance. Putin chips way, instilling more fear, orchestrating more apathy, more turning away.
The ruler of Russia, obsessed with the past as he attempts to mold the future of countries and people around the globe is not going to fade quietly away. Putin would have us focus on his American puppets, his ability to manipulate the weak, to buy American loyalties with the promise of power. Overlord and overload.
Russian proxies in Congress, equally obstructionist members in NATO. Control, power, useful tools of the Kremlin. The means, weaken the opposition.
Silence the Masses.
Seed democracies, quash the will of the people, instill fear, over and over. Politicians purchased, manipulated masses and if necessary, genocide committed against one’s neighbors. The puppet master on parade.
Alexei Navalny knew the cost of opposing Putin. He chose to return to Russia. Russia now tells us Navalny paid with his life.
Why? Democracy under attack. Alexei Navalny, at the very least, wanted a voice for his people. Navalny believed silence and apathy to be the death of democracy, the path to quelling the voice of the people.
Let Navalny’s reported death be one of enlightenment, an opportunity to use the voice of the free people, of those in free societies to speak.
Let us not be silenced.