Challenges Faced by Alexei Navalny: Obstacles and Turning Points
A closer look at the defining struggles that shaped Alexei Navalny's life and career.
Alexei Anatolyevich Navalny was a prominent Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist. He founded the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in 2011 to investigate and expose corruption within the Russian government. Navalny gained international recognition for his activism, including being designated a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International and receiving the Sakharov Prize. He was considered a political prisoner, facing numerous arrests and convictions widely viewed as politically motivated. He was a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and the Russian government, and his work significantly impacted Russian politics.
2007: Alleged Fraud by Allekt
In 2007 Allekt, an advertising company headed by Navalny, allegedly defrauded the Union of Right Forces (SPS) political party.
2008: Alleged Embezzlement by Navalny and His Brother
In 2008 Alexei Navalny and his brother Oleg allegedly embezzled 55 million rubles while working in a postal business.
2008: Navalny Becomes Activist Shareholder in Oil and Gas Companies
In 2008, Alexei Navalny invested 300,000 rubles to become an activist shareholder in five major Russian oil and gas companies, including Rosneft and Gazprom, seeking to increase the transparency of their financial assets.
2009: Alleged Embezzlement from Kirovles
In 2009, Alexei Navalny allegedly conspired to steal timber from Kirovles, a state-owned company, while acting as an advisor to Kirov's governor Nikita Belykh. This allegation led to the Kirovles case.
November 2010: Navalny Publishes Confidential Transneft Documents
In November 2010, Alexei Navalny published confidential documents related to Transneft's auditing, alleging that approximately US$4 billion was stolen by the company's leaders during the construction of the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.
2010: Initial Report on the Estate
In 2010 after the businessman Sergei Kolesnikov, who was involved in the project, gave details about it the estate was first reported on.
May 2011: Public Opinion on Kirovles Case
In May 2011, according to Levada Center, 20% of people thought the Kirovles case had been caused by an actual violation of law, while 54% agreed the rationale beyond the case was his anti-corruption activity.
May 2011: Criminal Investigation Launched Against Navalny
In May 2011, the Russian government initiated a criminal investigation into Alexei Navalny, which was widely perceived as retaliation for his activities.
December 2011: Arrested at Moscow Protest
In December 2011, Alexei Navalny was arrested during a protest in Moscow following parliamentary elections and accusations of electoral fraud. He was sentenced to 15 days for defying a government official.
2011: Alleged Embezzlement by Navalny and His Brother
In 2011 Alexei Navalny and his brother Oleg allegedly embezzled 55 million rubles while working in a postal business.
2011: Leaks of Palace Interior
In 2011 photographs from inside the palace, were leaked onto the Internet.
February 2012: Navalny Alleges Misspending of Federal Funds in Chechnya
In February 2012, Alexei Navalny concluded that Russian federal money allocated to Ramzan Kadyrov's Chechen Interior Ministry was being spent "in a totally shadowy and fraudulent way."
March 2012: Anti-Putin Rally and Detention
In March 2012, Alexei Navalny helped lead an anti-Putin rally in Moscow, attended by thousands. Following the rally, Navalny was detained by authorities for several hours.
May 2012: Arrest After Anti-Putin Rally
On May 8, 2012, Alexei Navalny and Udaltsov were arrested after an anti-Putin rally at Clean Ponds, and were each given 15-day jail sentences. Amnesty International designated the two men prisoners of conscience.
July 2012: Navalny Charged with Embezzlement in Kirovles Case
On July 30, 2012, the Investigative Committee charged Alexei Navalny with embezzlement, alleging he conspired to steal timber from Kirovles, a state-owned company, in 2009 while advising Kirov's governor.
December 2012: Investigative Committee Interrogates Yves Rocher Vostok
In November and December 2012, the Investigative Committee interrogated and questioned Yves Rocher Vostok.
December 2012: Investigative Committee Asserts Fraud by Allekt Against Union of Right Forces
In late December 2012, the Investigative Committee of Russia asserted that Allekt, an advertising company headed by Navalny, defrauded the Union of Right Forces (SPS) political party in 2007.
2012: Embezzlement and fraud charges declared
In 2012, Navalny was charged with embezzlement and fraud charges.
April 2013: Loeb & Loeb Issues Analysis Criticizing Navalny Prosecutions
In April 2013, Loeb & Loeb LLP issued a paper titled "An Analysis of the Russian Federation's prosecutions of Alexei Navalny," concluding that the Kremlin misused the legal system to harass and silence political opponents.
April 2013: Kirovles Trial Commences
The Kirovles trial against Alexei Navalny commenced in the city of Kirov on April 17, 2013.
May 2013: Shifting Opinions on Kirovles Case
In May 2013, Levada Center found that 28% believed the Kirovles case was a violation of law, and 47% attributed it to Navalny's anti-corruption efforts.
July 2013: Initial Reactions to Criminal Case Verdict
In July 2013, 13% found the result of another criminal case against him was unfair and Navalny was not guilty while 17% found the verdict was too tough.
July 2013: Registration of The People's Alliance Party Declined
On July 5, 2013, the registration of The People's Alliance party was declined, reportedly because not all founders were present during the congress.
September 2013: Further Shifts in Opinion
In September 2013, the Levada Center reported that 35% considered the Kirovles case a legal violation, while 45% linked it to Navalny's anti-corruption work.
October 2013: Navalny's Prison Sentence Suspended
On October 16, 2013, a court in Kirov suspended Alexei Navalny's prison sentence, but it remained a burden for his political future.
November 2013: Deprived of Advocate Status
In November 2013, following the judgment in the Kirovles case, Alexei Navalny was deprived of his advocate status, impacting his ability to practice law.
2013: Suspended Sentence for Embezzlement and Moscow Mayoral Election
In 2013, Alexei Navalny received a suspended sentence for embezzlement, a case widely seen as politically motivated. Despite this, he ran in the 2013 Moscow mayoral election, securing second place with 27.2% of the vote.
2013: Initial Kirovles case sentence
In 2013, the Leninsky district court of Kirov initially sentenced Navalny in the Kirovles case which was later sent to a new trial.
2013: Repeated 2013 Sentence
On February 8, 2017, the Leninsky district court of Kirov repeated its sentence of 2013.
January 2014: Party files for registration, registration suspended
In January 2014, Navalny's party filed registration documents for the second time, but on January 2014, the registration was suspended due to Russian laws prohibiting two parties from sharing a name.
February 2014: Navalny Placed Under House Arrest
On February 28, 2014, Alexei Navalny was placed under house arrest for allegedly violating travel restrictions and was prohibited from communicating with anyone other than his family, lawyers, and investigators.
September 2014: Changing Perceptions of the Kirovles Case
In September 2014, the Levada Center indicated that 37% believed the Kirovles case was a legal violation, and 38% attributed it to Navalny's anti-corruption activity.
September 2014: Party declares regional branch registration
On September 26, 2014, Navalny's party declared it had registered 43 regional branches. However, an unnamed source said registrations completed after the six-month term would not be taken into consideration.
December 2014: Navalny Brothers Found Guilty in Yves Rocher Case
On December 30, 2014, Alexei and Oleg Navalny were found guilty of fraud and money laundering in the Yves Rocher case. Alexei received a suspended sentence, while Oleg was sentenced to prison. Alexei was briefly apprehended after breaking house arrest to attend a rally.
2014: Second Suspended Sentence for Embezzlement
In 2014, Alexei Navalny received a second suspended sentence for embezzlement, a conviction also viewed by many as politically motivated and designed to prevent him from participating in future elections.
2014: Yves Rocher Case Suspended Sentence
In January 2021, prior to Alexei Navalny's return to Russia, the FSIN stated that he might face jail time for violating the terms of his probation from a suspended sentence he received in 2014 in the Yves Rocher case.
January 2015: Decline in Belief of Unfair Verdict
In January 2015, the share of those who found the result of another criminal case against him was unfair and Navalny was not guilty dropped to 5%, and the number of those who found the verdict was too tough also fell to 9%.
April 2015: Party initiates a coalition of democratic parties, deprived of registration
On April 17, 2015, Navalny's party initiated a coalition of democratic parties. On April 28, 2015, the party was deprived of registration by the Ministry of Justice, which stated the party had not registered the required number of regional branches within six months after the official registration.
October 2015: Navalny Pays Partial Compensation in Yves Rocher Case
In October 2015, Alexei Navalny paid part of the compensation (2.9 million rubles) he was ordered to pay, and requested an installment plan for the rest. The request was granted, with a shorter term than requested.
February 2016: European Court of Human Rights Rules Russia Violated Navalny's Right to Fair Trial
On February 23, 2016, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia had violated Alexei Navalny's right to a fair trial and ordered the government to pay him 56,000 euros in legal costs and damages.
November 2016: Russia's Supreme Court Overturns 2013 Sentence
On November 16, 2016, Russia's Supreme Court overturned Alexei Navalny's 2013 sentence in the Kirovles case and sent the verdict back to the Leninsky District Court in Kirov for review.
February 2017: Re-sentencing in Kirovles case
On February 8, 2017, the Leninsky district court of Kirov re-sentenced Navalny with a five-year suspended sentence in the Kirovles case, which could prohibit his official registration as a candidate.
February 2017: Leninsky District Court of Kirov Repeats 2013 Sentence
On February 8, 2017, the Leninsky district court of Kirov repeated its sentence of 2013 and charged Alexei Navalny with a five-year suspended sentence. Navalny announced that he would pursue the annulment of the sentence.
March 2017: Navalny Accuses Dmitry Medvedev of Corruption and Organizes Anti-Corruption Rallies
In March 2017, Navalny published an investigation accusing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of corruption and organized anti-corruption rallies across Russia on March 26. He was later fined and jailed for organizing an illegal protest and resisting arrest on March 27.
April 2017: Zelyonka attack outside office
On April 27, 2017, Navalny was attacked by unknown assailants outside his office with brilliant green dye, resulting in a chemical burn to his right eye and reportedly losing 80 percent of his sight. He accused the Kremlin of orchestrating the attack.
July 2017: Release from jail after imprisonment
Navalny was released from jail on July 27, 2017, after spending 25 days of imprisonment. Before that, he was arrested in Moscow for participating in protests and was sentenced to 30 days in jail for organizing illegal protests.
September 2017: Accusations of police interference
In September 2017, Human Rights Watch accused Russian police of systematic interference with Navalny's presidential campaign. Also, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe invited Russian authorities to erase the prohibition on Mr. Navalny's standing for election.
October 2017: Sentenced to jail for protest calls
In October 2017, Navalny was sentenced to 20 days in jail for calls to participate in protests without approval from state authorities.
October 2017: ECHR Rules Navalny's Conviction Was Arbitrary
On October 17, 2017, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Navalny's conviction for fraud and money laundering "was based on an unforeseeable application of criminal law and that the proceedings were arbitrary and unfair."
December 2017: Barred from running for president
In December 2017, Russia's Central Electoral Commission barred Navalny from running for president in 2018, citing Navalny's corruption conviction. Navalny called for a boycott of the 2018 presidential election.
2017: ECHR Ruling on Yves Rocher Case
In January 2021, prior to Alexei Navalny's return to Russia, the FSIN stated that he might face jail time for violating the terms of his probation. In 2017, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Navalny was unfairly convicted in the Yves Rocher case.
January 2018: Navalny Imprisoned for Staging Protests
In January 2018, Alexei Navalny was imprisoned for staging protests.
January 2018: Protests and Arrest
On January 28, 2018, Navalny led protests to urge a boycott of Russia's 2018 presidential election. Navalny was arrested on the day of the protest and then released the same day, pending trial.
February 2018: Accusation of assaulting an officer
On February 5, 2018, the government accused Navalny of assaulting an officer during the January protests.
August 2018: Navalny Accuses Viktor Zolotov of Stealing from National Guard Contracts
In August 2018, Alexei Navalny alleged that Viktor Zolotov stole at least US$29 million from procurement contracts for the National Guard of Russia.
September 2018: Arrest and conviction for organizing illegal demonstrations
Immediately after his release on September 25, 2018, Navalny was arrested and convicted for organizing illegal demonstrations and sentenced to another 20 days in jail.
November 2018: Grand Chamber Upholds ECHR Decision
On November 15, 2018, the Grand Chamber upheld the decision of the European Court of Human Rights that Navalny's conviction for fraud and money laundering "was based on an unforeseeable application of criminal law and that the proceedings were arbitrary and unfair."
2018: Barred from 2018 Presidential Election
In 2018, Alexei Navalny was barred from running in the presidential election, a move that further highlighted the political obstacles he faced in his opposition to the Russian government.
2018: Presidential election boycott
In 2018, Navalny was barred from running for president. He called for a boycott of the 2018 presidential election.
April 2019: Moskovsky Shkolnik Files Lawsuit Against Navalny
In April 2019, Moskovsky Shkolnik, a company allegedly linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, filed a lawsuit against Alexei Navalny after he claimed they supplied poor-quality food to schools causing a dysentery outbreak.
July 2019: Arrest, Hospitalization, and Smart Voting Project
In July 2019, Navalny was arrested for ten days, then for 30 days. On the evening of July 28, he was hospitalized with severe damage to his eyes and skin, diagnosed with an "allergy", although this diagnosis was disputed. On July 29, 2019, Navalny was discharged from hospital and taken back to prison. In response, he initiated the Smart Voting project.
October 2019: Court Orders Navalny to Pay Millions in Lawsuit
In October 2019, the Moscow Arbitration Court ordered Alexei Navalny to pay 29.2 million rubles after Moskovsky Shkolnik filed a lawsuit against him. Navalny maintained that the dysentery cases were proven with documents, showing the situation in October 2019.
April 2020: Yandex Artificially Ranks Negative Commentary About Navalny
In April 2020, Yandex search engine started artificially placing negative commentary about Navalny on the top positions in its search results for his name.
June 2020: Slander Charges Against Navalny Launched
In June 2020, a case was launched against Alexei Navalny on slander charges for defaming a World War II veteran who participated in a promotional video. The charges came to trial in February 2021.
August 2020: Poisoning with Novichok Nerve Agent
In August 2020, Alexei Navalny was severely poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent. He was hospitalized and medically evacuated to Berlin for treatment.
August 2020: Navalny Falls Ill on Flight and Hospitalized
On 20 August 2020, Alexei Navalny became ill during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow and was hospitalized in Omsk after an emergency landing. His condition changed rapidly and violently on the plane, leading to the emergency landing.
August 2020: Prigozhin to Enforce Court Decision
On 25 August 2020, Yevgeny Prigozhin stated his intent to enforce a court decision requiring Alexei Navalny, Lyubov Sobol, and the Anti-Corruption Foundation to pay 88 million rubles in damages to Moskovsky Shkolnik over a video investigation.
September 2020: Levada Center Poll Results on Navalny
In September 2020, a Levada Center poll indicated that 20% of Russians approved of Alexei Navalny's activities, while 50% disapproved, and 18% were unfamiliar with him.
January 2021: Court Orders Detention of Navalny and Investigation Published
On 18 January 2021, a court ordered the detention of Alexei Navalny until 15 February for violating his parole. The next day, an investigation by Navalny and the FBK was published accusing President Vladimir Putin of corruption, leading to mass protests.
January 2021: Navalny's Lawyers Apply to ECHR for Interim Measure
On 20 January 2021, Alexei Navalny's lawyers applied to the European Court of Human Rights for an "interim measure" for his release after his detention.
January 2021: Navalny Investigation Accuses Putin of Building Lavish Estate
On January 19, 2021, two days after being detained, Navalny and the FBK published an investigation accusing President Vladimir Putin of using fraudulently obtained funds to build a massive estate near Gelendzhik, alleging it cost over 100 billion rubles.
February 2021: European Court of Human Rights Rules for Navalny's Release
On 16 February 2021, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Russia should immediately release Alexei Navalny, citing risks to his life. However, Russian officials rejected the ruling.
February 2021: Navalny's Suspended Sentence Replaced with Prison Sentence
On 2 February 2021, a Moscow court replaced Alexei Navalny's suspended sentence with a prison sentence. The verdict was widely condemned, and protests ensued, met with police crackdown.
February 2021: Navalny Arrives at Pokrov Correctional Colony
On 28 February 2021, Alexei Navalny was reported to have arrived at the Pokrov correctional colony in Vladimir Oblast, a prison where other political figures were also jailed.
March 2021: Navalny Accuses Authorities of Torture
In March 2021, Alexei Navalny formally accused authorities of torture by sleep deprivation and complained about health problems and denied access to a civilian physician.
March 2021: EU and US Impose Sanctions on Russian Officials
In early March 2021, the European Union and the United States imposed sanctions on senior Russian officials in response to the poisoning and imprisonment of Alexei Navalny.
April 2021: Moscow Prosecutor Requests Designation of Navalny's Organizations as Extremist
On 16 April 2021, the Moscow prosecutor's office requested the Moscow City Court to designate organizations linked to Alexei Navalny as extremist, claiming they were creating conditions for destabilization.
April 2021: Reports Surface of Navalny Needing Immediate Medical Attention
On 17 April 2021, it was reported that Alexei Navalny was in immediate need of medical attention due to increased risk of cardiac arrest or kidney failure, with doctors requesting immediate access to him.
April 2021: Navalny Moved to Hospital for Convicts and Ends Hunger Strike
On 19 April 2021, Alexei Navalny was moved to a hospital for convicts. On 23 April 2021, Navalny announced he was ending his hunger strike, which he started in March 2021, on the advice of his doctors and because he felt his demands had been partially met.
April 2021: Moscow Prosecutor Orders Navalny's Network to Cease Activities
On 26 April 2021, Moscow's prosecutor office ordered Alexei Navalny's network of regional offices to cease its activities, pending a court ruling on whether to designate them as extremist organizations.
April 2021: Navalny's Team Announces Dissolution of Political Network
On 29 April 2021, Alexei Navalny's team announced that the political network would be dissolved, in advance of a court ruling expected to designate it as extremist. Also, a new criminal case was opened against Navalny.
April 2021: Doctors Arrested While Trying to Visit Navalny
On 6 April 2021, six doctors, including Alexei Navalny's personal physician, were arrested outside the prison when they attempted to visit him as his health deteriorated significantly due to his hunger strike started in March 2021.
May 2021: Amnesty International listed Navalny as a prisoner of conscience
In May 2021, Amnesty International listed Navalny as a prisoner of conscience, stating that his incarceration was primarily due to his political beliefs.
June 2021: Navalny's Newspapers Censored in Prison
As of June 2021, Alexei Navalny's newspapers were being censored in prison, with articles being cut out.
June 2021: Navalny's Political Network Designated as Extremist and Liquidated
On 9 June 2021, Alexei Navalny's political network, including his headquarters and the FBK, were designated as extremist organizations and liquidated by the Moscow City Court.
August 2021: Court upholds decision classifying Navalny case file as state secret
In August 2021, the First Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction in Moscow upheld the decision to classify Alexei Navalny's case file as a state secret. The prosecutor stated that Navalny and other defendants were considered extremist because they wanted to change power in Russia and support protesters.
October 2021: Navalny designated as "terrorist" and "extremist" by Russian prison commission
In October 2021, Alexei Navalny reported that the Russian prison commission had designated him as a "terrorist" and "extremist," although he was no longer considered a flight risk.
October 2021: Navalny received the Sakharov Prize
In October 2021, Navalny received the Sakharov Prize, the European Parliament's annual human rights prize, recognizing his fight against the corruption of Vladimir Putin's regime.
December 2021: Navalny files cassational appeal
In December 2021, Alexei Navalny, along with the Anti-Corruption Foundation, the Citizens' Rights Protection Foundation, and 18 individuals, filed a cassational appeal with the Second Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction.
January 2022: Russia adds Navalny to "terrorists and extremists" list
In January 2022, Russia added Alexei Navalny and his aides to the official list of "terrorists and extremists."
February 2022: Navalny faces new trial on fraud and contempt charges
In February 2022, Alexei Navalny faced a new trial, potentially adding 10 to 15 years to his prison sentence, on charges of fraud and contempt of court. The charges included allegations of stealing $4.7 million in donations and insulting a judge.
February 2022: Witness refuses to testify; Navalny condemns invasion of Ukraine during trial
In February 2022, a prosecution witness refused to testify against Alexei Navalny, stating he was pressured. During his trial on February 24, Navalny condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and asked for his statement to be included in the trial's protocol.
March 2022: Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison
In March 2022, Alexei Navalny was sentenced to an additional nine years in prison after being found guilty of embezzlement and contempt of court in a trial deemed a sham by Amnesty International.
March 2022: Court rejects Navalny's appeal
In March 2022, the Second Court of Cassation rejected all appeals filed by Alexei Navalny and others, upholding the judgements of the lower courts.
May 2022: Navalny appeals sentence, court upholds judgement
In May 2022, Alexei Navalny opened an appeal process against his sentence; the Moscow City Court upheld the judgement of the court of first instance on May 24.
May 2022: Navalny notified of new extremism charges
On May 31, 2022, Alexei Navalny reported that he was officially notified about new charges of extremism brought against him, potentially adding up to 15 years to his prison sentence.
June 2022: Navalny transferred to maximum security prison
In mid-June 2022, Alexei Navalny was transferred to the maximum security prison IK-6 in Melekhovo, Vladimir Oblast.
June 2022: Navalny loses appeal on "extremist" designation
On June 28, 2022, Alexei Navalny lost his appeal against being designated as an "extremist" and "terrorist."
September 2022: Navalny placed in solitary confinement and attorney-client privilege revoked
In September 2022, Alexei Navalny reported being placed in solitary confinement for the fourth time in a month and his attorney-client privilege was revoked.
November 2022: Navalny reports being in permanent solitary confinement
On November 17, 2022, Alexei Navalny stated that he was now in permanent solitary confinement due to various infractions.
January 2023: Doctors demand end to Navalny's abuse; Navalny transferred to isolated punishment cell
In January 2023, over 400 Russian doctors signed an open letter to President Putin demanding an end to the abuse of Alexei Navalny, who fell ill in solitary confinement. Later that month, Navalny was transferred to an isolated punishment cell.
August 2023: Sentenced to 19 Years on Extremism Charges
In August 2023, Alexei Navalny received another sentence of 19 years on extremism charges, further extending his imprisonment and solidifying concerns about politically motivated persecution.
August 2023: Navalny sentenced to additional 19 years in prison
On August 4, 2023, Alexei Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in a "special regime" colony on various charges after being found guilty by the Moscow City Court in a closed-doors trial.
October 2023: Navalny's lawyers arrested for communicating with him.
On October 13, 2023, three of Alexei Navalny's lawyers were arrested for communicating his messages from prison, and face up to 6 years in prison.
October 2023: Navalny's lawyers detained on extremism charges
On October 13, 2023, three of Alexei Navalny's lawyers were detained and charged with participating in an "extremist group" for allegedly passing his messages from the penal colony.
December 2023: Disappearance and Re-emergence in Arctic Circle Colony
In December 2023, Alexei Navalny went missing from prison for almost three weeks before reappearing in an Arctic Circle corrective colony in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug.
December 2023: Navalny disappears from penal colony; whereabouts unknown
On December 11, 2023, Alexei Navalny's aides reported that they had lost contact with him for six days, after he was removed from his penal colony and his location was unknown. On December 25, 2023 he was discovered to be in the IK-3 "special regime" colony.
December 2038: Projected Release Date
According to his lawyers, following his latest sentencing in August 2023, Alexei Navalny would have been released in December 2038.
