Rally in Russia

Navalny’s widow calls for protest against election

Alexei Navalny and Yulia Navalnaya(Bild: AFP)

The widow of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny is calling for a nationwide protest against the presidential election in Russia. She wants people to vote against incumbent Vladimir Putin on March 17 or cast an invalid vote.

Yulia Navalnaya said in a YouTube video on Wednesday that she had drawn hope from the large crowd that turned out for her husband's funeral in Moscow last Friday. "We must use election day to show that we exist and that there are many of us," Navalnaya said in exile.

Before his death, Navalny had announced a nationwide protest against the presidential election in Russia for noon on March 17. His widow announced that she would continue the fight (see video above). She has already met with US President Joe Biden, took part in the Munich Security Conference and spoke in the European Parliament.

From left: Alexei Navalny and Yulia Navalnaya(Bild: AFP)

Alexei Navalny, Russia's most popular opposition politician and fiercest Putin critic, was declared dead in the "Polar Wolf" prison camp in Siberia on February 16. The Russian leadership said that the 47-year-old died of natural causes. Yulia Navalnaya and many Western governments, however, accuse Russian President Vladimir Putin of being responsible for Navalny's death.

Putin's victory is considered certain
The opposition politician was accused of fraud and extremism, among other things, and was sentenced to a total of more than 30 years in prison. Navalny has always denied the accusations and described them as politically motivated. 

It is considered certain that Putin will be confirmed in office in the election from March 15 to 17 and can therefore remain Russian president until at least 2030.