The tumultuous life of Alexei Navalny, Russia's outspoken dissident who has been sentenced to 19 years in prison

James PasleyJan 12, 2024, 13:05 IST

Alexei Navalny attends a rally in support of political prisoners in Moscow, Russia.Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Alexei Navalny, Russia's most famous living dissident, made a name for himself as an anti-corruption blogger.
His videos linked bureaucrats to palaces and yachts, gained millions of views, and sparked protests.

Last month, Alexei Navalny — a famously outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin — had 19 years added to his prison sentence.

Navalny, 47, has been a thorn in Putin's side for 15 years — first as an anti-corruption blogger, and later as an independent politician running and campaigning in local and national elections.

Navalny has often used humor to take on Putin. He dubbed Putin's political party United Russia "the party of Crooks and Thieves," and called Putin "a thieving little man in a bunker."

In 2020, he almost died after he was poisoned with a nerve agent, allegedly by Russian agents.He was flown to Germany for treatment.

Once he recovered, he returned to Russia knowing he would be imprisoned. He's now locked in a remote penal colony that's typically reserved for those accused of violent crimes and incarcerated people serving life terms.

Alexei Navalny was born on June 4, 1976, in Butyn, a town west of Moscow.

Alexei Navalny speaks during a rally against parliament elections in Moscow, Russia.Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images

He wasn't particularly fond of his university education and found it uninspiring, recalling he once put $50 in the exam book to get a passing grade.

Alexei Navalny poses in his office in Moscow, Russia.Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

Navalny got his first taste of corruption working as a real estate lawyer.

Alexei Navalny attends a meeting of the organizers in Moscow, Russia.Yevgeny Feldman/AP

In 1999, Navalny joined the Yabloko party, a liberal group his mother supported that formed after the Soviet Union collapsed.

Alexei Navalny speaks in his office in Moscow.Oxana Onipko/AFP via Getty Images

Navalny clashed with the party when he posted several controversial videos, including a 2007 pro-gun rights video where he suggested that Muslim militants are "cockroaches" that need to be exterminated.

Alexei Navalny speaks at a meeting in Moscow, Russia.Mikhail Metzel/AP

Navalny clashed with the party when he posted several controversial videos, including a 2007 pro-gun rights video where he suggested that Muslim militants are "cockroaches" that need to be exterminated.

In 2008, Navalny began to make a name for himself as an anti-corruption blogger.

Alexei Navalny speaks to his supporters and media after his release from a detention center in Moscow, Russia.Mikhail Metzel/AP

He started buying stocks in state-owned companies, including oil and gas monopolies, so he could ask questions as a shareholder and see how the companies worked from within.

Alexei Navalny takes part in a march at Strastnoy Boulevard in Moscow, Russia.Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

He started buying stocks in state-owned companies, including oil and gas monopolies, so he could ask questions as a shareholder and see how the companies worked from within.

Navalny was aware of how dangerous his work was.

Alexei Navalny attends a rally in support of political prisoners in Prospekt Sakharova Street in Moscow, Russia.Sefa Karacan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

That same year, he founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation, or FBK for short.

Alexei Navalny speaks during an opposition rally in central Moscow, Russia.Alexey Sazonov/AFP/Getty Images

During 2011 and 2012, Navalny's popularity grew as he campaigned to get people to vote for politicians running against Putin's party, United Russia.

Alexei Navalny was detained by Russian police officers during a protest in Moscow.Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

In 2013, Navalny ran for mayor of Moscow.

Alexei Navalny takes part in a televised debate with former Kremlin adviser Andrei Illarionov in Moscow.Misha Japaridze/AP

During his mayoral run, he was also on trial for embezzlement.

Alexei Navalny seen behind the bars in the police van after he was detained during protests in Moscow, Russia.Sergey Ponomarev/AP

The following year though, Navalny was accused of fraud alongside his younger brother, Oleg.

Police officers detain Alexei Navalny after his visit to the city's election commission office to submit documents to get registered as a mayoral election candidate in Moscow, Russia.Vasily Maximov/AFP/Getty Images

Navalny's brother, Oleg, was convicted and given a 3.5-year prison sentence.

Alexei Navalny and his brother, Oleg Navalny.Dmitry Serebryakov/AFP/Getty Images

In late 2016, Navalny announced his run for president for the 2018 election.

Alexei Navalny is seen before his visit to the Russian Central Election Commission in Moscow, Russia.Evgeny Feldman for Alexei Navalny's campaign/Handout/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

In August 2020, Navalny was on a flight back from Siberia where he had been campaigning when he suddenly collapsed.

An empty stretcher was believed to have carried Alexei Navalny into the German hospital.Markus Schreiber/AP

In 2021, after he had recovered, Navalny decided to return to Russia.

Alexei Navalny, who was arrested during an anti-corruption rally, gestures during an appeal hearing at a court in Moscow, Russia.Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images

Navalny's days of freedom also appear to be over.

Alexei Navalny is seen on a screen via a video link from his penal colony during court hearings t the Russia's Supreme Court in Moscow, Russia.Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images

Despite international support, Navalny was moved to IK-6 prison, a remote penal colony that's typically reserved for those accused of violent crimes and incarcerated people serving life terms.

A screen shows Alexei Navalny as he listens to his verdict over a series of extremism charges at the IK-6 penal colony.Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

Despite international support, Navalny was moved to IK-6 prison, a remote penal colony that's typically reserved for those accused of violent crimes and incarcerated people serving life terms.

Navalny hasn't given up hope and told his allies "not to lose the will to resist."

Activists of the Russian community in Italy demonstrate for the freedom of Alexei Navalny and all Russian political prisoners.Simona Granati/Corbis/Getty Images

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The tumultuous life of Alexei Navalny, Russia's outspoken dissident who has been sentenced to 19 years in prison

Alexei Navalny was born on June 4, 1976, in Butyn, a town west of Moscow.

He wasn't particularly fond of his university education and found it uninspiring, recalling he once put $50 in the exam book to get a passing grade.

Navalny got his first taste of corruption working as a real estate lawyer.

In 1999, Navalny joined the Yabloko party, a liberal group his mother supported that formed after the Soviet Union collapsed.

Navalny clashed with the party when he posted several controversial videos, including a 2007 pro-gun rights video where he suggested that Muslim militants are "cockroaches" that need to be exterminated.

In 2008, Navalny began to make a name for himself as an anti-corruption blogger.

He started buying stocks in state-owned companies, including oil and gas monopolies, so he could ask questions as a shareholder and see how the companies worked from within.

Navalny was aware of how dangerous his work was.

That same year, he founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation, or FBK for short.

During 2011 and 2012, Navalny's popularity grew as he campaigned to get people to vote for politicians running against Putin's party, United Russia.

In 2013, Navalny ran for mayor of Moscow.

During his mayoral run, he was also on trial for embezzlement.

The following year though, Navalny was accused of fraud alongside his younger brother, Oleg.

Navalny's brother, Oleg, was convicted and given a 3.5-year prison sentence.

In late 2016, Navalny announced his run for president for the 2018 election.

In August 2020, Navalny was on a flight back from Siberia where he had been campaigning when he suddenly collapsed.

In 2021, after he had recovered, Navalny decided to return to Russia.

Navalny's days of freedom also appear to be over.

Despite international support, Navalny was moved to IK-6 prison, a remote penal colony that's typically reserved for those accused of violent crimes and incarcerated people serving life terms.

Navalny hasn't given up hope and told his allies "not to lose the will to resist."