Russia’s top opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, has lost 8 kg while in jail and is suffering from an illness that may be due to slow-acting poison, says his spokeswoman. Navalny is a prominent politician in Russia’s opposition, and supporters compare him to Nelson Mandela. He gained popularity for exposing corruption across the Russian elite, and he believes that Russia is ruled by “crooks and thieves.” Navalny has been arrested and prosecuted many times, and most of his senior allies now live in Europe.
Navalny fell ill on a flight in 2020 due to the effects of a nerve agent called Novichok, which German tests confirmed. Putin dismissed the investigation into the incident as a smear. Navalny has been married to Yulia, and they have two children, including a daughter who studies at Stanford University in the US.
Navalny has made several notable quotes about Putin, corruption in Russia, and the war in Ukraine. He believes that Putin’s political power is built on corruption in Russia. He has also said that the war in Ukraine is a “stupid war” built on lies. Despite being arrested and knowing the danger of challenging the Kremlin, he has stated that he is not afraid and would like to be president if there were elections in Russia. He has also noted that if someone decides to kill him, it means that his movement is incredibly strong, and they should not give up.
