The Navalny Phenomenon

On March 10th VOC hosted Maria Snegovaya, Brian Whitmore, and David Satter for a virtual conversation on the Navalny phenomenon and the future of Russia. About the speakers: Five months after his poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok, Alexei Navalny returned to Russia and was immediately detained upon arrival. This prompted the largest and most widespread showing of popular discontent in many years with protests taking place across the country over the next several weeks. With Navalny sentenced to two and half years at a corrective labor colony on February 2 and the last major demonstration having taken place on Valentine’s Day, it is appropriate to ask what the Navalny phenomenon means for the future of Russia. In recognition of Navalny’s courageous defense of free speech and free assembly, VOC awarded its Dissident Human Rights Award to Alexei Navalny.