Most Talked-About Controversies Linked to Alexei Navalny

A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Alexei Navalny.

Alexei Navalny was a prominent Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist. As the founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) in 2011, he investigated and exposed alleged corruption within the Russian government. Navalny faced multiple arrests and imprisonments throughout his career, which were widely viewed as politically motivated. Amnesty International recognized him as a prisoner of conscience, and he received the Sakharov Prize for his human rights advocacy. He was a vocal critic of Vladimir Putin and a key figure in Russian opposition movements, advocating for democratic reforms and increased government transparency. He died in prison in February 2024.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1979: Comparison of Recognition of Separatist Republics to Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

In February 2022, Alexei Navalny compared Russia's recognition of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic to the Soviet Union's deployment of troops to Afghanistan in 1979, both viewed as distractions from genuine problems.

2006: Participation in the "Russian March"

In 2006, Alexei Navalny participated in the "Russian march", a parade uniting Russian nationalist groups, marking his involvement in nationalist movements.

2006: Appealed to Moscow City Hall to conduct the nationalist 2006 Russian march

In late 2006, Alexei Navalny appealed to the Moscow City Hall, asking it to grant permission to conduct the nationalist 2006 Russian march, while also condemning ethnic hatred and xenophobia.

December 2007: Expulsion from Yabloko

In December 2007, Alexei Navalny was expelled from Yabloko for his nationalist views and for participating in the Russian March after the party lost legislative election to Russian State Duma by receiving only 1.6% votes.

2007: Co-founding of NAROD and Anti-Immigration Videos

In 2007, Alexei Navalny co-founded the National Russian Liberation Movement (NAROD) and released several anti-immigration videos, including one where he compared people from North Caucasus to cockroaches, actions he later regretted.

2008: Initial Support for Russo-Georgian War

In 2008, Alexei Navalny initially supported the Russo-Georgian War, calling for strikes on the Georgian General Staff and the expulsion of Georgian citizens from Russia. He later apologized for insulting Georgians.

2009: Kirovles Timber Theft Allegation

In 2009, Alexei Navalny allegedly conspired to steal timber from Kirovles, a state-owned company in Kirov Oblast, while acting as an adviser to Kirov's governor Nikita Belykh.

November 2010: Publication of Transneft Documents

In November 2010, Alexei Navalny published confidential documents about Transneft's auditing, alleging that about US$4 billion were stolen by Transneft's leaders during the construction of the Eastern Siberia–Pacific Ocean oil pipeline.

2010: First Report on Putin's Estate

In 2010, the businessman Sergei Kolesnikov first reported on the massive estate allegedly built for Vladimir Putin near Gelendzhik.

February 2011: Navalny Calls United Russia "Party of Crooks and Thieves"

In February 2011, during an interview with finam.fm radio station, Alexei Navalny famously labeled the United Russia party as the "party of crooks and thieves," a phrase that gained widespread popularity among the opposition.

February 2011: Detainment of Hungarian Officials

In February 2011, three Hungarian officials responsible for a real estate deal involving the sale of a former embassy building in Moscow were detained.

May 2011: Public Opinion on Kirovles Case

In May 2011, according to the Levada Center, 20% of people believed the Kirovles case was due to an actual violation of law, while 54% thought it was related to Navalny's anti-corruption activity.

May 2011: Criminal Investigation Launched Against Navalny

In May 2011, the Russian government initiated a criminal investigation into Alexei Navalny, which media and Navalny himself described as a form of "revenge" and a "fabrication by the security services" following his branding of United Russia as the "party of crooks and thieves."

December 2011: Arrested at Moscow protest

In December 2011, Alexei Navalny was arrested on December 5th, along with approximately 300 others, at a Moscow protest following parliamentary elections and accusations of electoral fraud, and was sentenced to 15 days for defying a government official.

2011: Describing United Russia as a "party of crooks and thieves"

In 2011, Alexei Navalny described Russia's ruling party, United Russia, as a "party of crooks and thieves" in an interview, a byname that gained popularity.

2011: Navalny Identifies as a Nationalist Democrat

In 2011, Alexei Navalny publicly stated that he considered himself a "nationalist democrat," reflecting his evolving views on Russian nationalism.

2011: Leaked Photos from Inside the Palace

In 2011, photos from inside Vladimir Putin's alleged palace were leaked onto the Internet, which were later compared with the palace's floor plan.

February 2012: Allegations Against Kadyrov

In February 2012, Alexei Navalny concluded that Russian federal money going to Ramzan Kadyrov's Chechen Interior Ministry was being spent in a fraudulent way.

July 2012: Embezzlement Charges

On July 30, 2012, the Investigative Committee charged Alexei Navalny with embezzlement, stating that he had conspired to steal timber from Kirovles in 2009.

December 2012: Interrogation of Yves Rocher Vostok

In November and December 2012, the Investigating Committee interrogated and questioned Yves Rocher Vostok.

2012: Embezzlement and fraud charges declared

In 2012, Navalny faced embezzlement and fraud charges.

April 2013: Loeb & Loeb LLP Analysis

In April 2013, Loeb & Loeb LLP issued "An Analysis of the Russian Federation's prosecutions of Alexei Navalny", concluding that "the Kremlin has reverted to misuse of the Russian legal system to harass, isolate and attempt to silence political opponents".

April 2013: Commencement of Kirovles Trial

In April 2013, the Kirovles trial commenced in the city of Kirov.

May 2013: Shifting Opinions on Kirovles Case

In May 2013, Levada Center data showed that 28% of people thought the Kirovles case was a genuine legal violation, while 47% attributed it to Navalny's anti-corruption efforts, indicating a shift in public perception.

July 2013: Public Opinion on Criminal Case Verdict

In July 2013, 13% of people found the result of another criminal case against Navalny unfair and that he was not guilty, while 17% found the verdict too tough.

September 2013: Continued Shifts in Opinion on Kirovles Case

In September 2013, the Levada Center found that 35% believed the Kirovles case was a legitimate legal matter, while 45% linked it to Navalny's anti-corruption work, continuing the trend of evolving public opinion.

October 2013: Suspension of Prison Sentence

On October 16, 2013, the prison sentence against Alexei Navalny was suspended by a court in Kirov, which remained a burden for his political future.

2013: Suspended sentence for embezzlement and Moscow mayoral election

In 2013, Alexei Navalny received a suspended sentence for embezzlement and ran in the Moscow mayoral election, finishing second with 27.2% of the vote.

2013: Comments on Ethnic Riots and Immigration

In 2013, following ethnic riots in Moscow sparked by a murder committed by a migrant, Alexei Navalny expressed sympathy with the anti-immigration movement, citing failing immigration policies. He later emphasized the importance of engaging with nationalists through democratic means rather than violence.

2013: Kirovles case of 2013

On February 8, 2017, the Leninsky district court of Kirov repeated its sentence of 2013 (after the case has been sent to a new trial with a different judge by the Supreme Court which annulled the initial sentence after the decision of ECHR, which ruled that Russia had violated Navalny's right to a fair trial, in the Kirovles case) and re-sentenced him with a five-year suspended sentence.

February 2014: House Arrest

On February 28, 2014, Alexei Navalny was placed under house arrest and prohibited from communicating with anyone other than his family, lawyers, and investigators, following the imputed violation of travel restrictions.

March 2014: Call for Sanctions After Crimea Annexation

In March 2014, following Russia's annexation of Crimea, Alexei Navalny urged for increased sanctions against officials and businessmen linked to Putin, criticizing previous sanctions as insufficient.

September 2014: Further Changes in Perception of Kirovles Case

By September 2014, Levada Center data indicated that 37% of people thought the Kirovles case was due to a legal violation, while 38% associated it with Navalny's anti-corruption activity, showing a convergence of opinions.

October 2014: Suggestion for New Referendum on Crimea's Fate

In October 2014, Alexei Navalny proposed that a new and fair referendum should determine the fate of Crimea, and he also called for an end to Russia's "sponsoring the war" in Donbas.

December 2014: Yves Rocher Case Verdict

On December 30, 2014, Alexei and Oleg Navalny were found guilty of fraud against MPC and Yves Rocher Vostok and money laundering. Alexei received a suspended sentence, while Oleg was sentenced to prison. Thousands protested, and Alexei was apprehended for breaking house arrest.

2014: Second suspended sentence for embezzlement

In 2014, Alexei Navalny received a second suspended sentence for embezzlement, a decision widely considered politically motivated.

January 2015: Decline in Belief of Unfair Verdict

By January 2015, the share of people who found the result of another criminal case against Navalny unfair and that he was not guilty dropped to 5%.

July 2015: Informal Prohibition on Mentioning Navalny's Name

In July 2015, Bloomberg reported that sources familiar with the matter claimed there was an informal prohibition from the Kremlin on senior Russian officials mentioning Navalny's name. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, rejected this assumption without mentioning Navalny's name.

October 2015: Payment of Compensation in Yves Rocher Case

On October 7, 2015, Alexei Navalny's lawyer announced that the defendant willingly paid 2.9 million rubles and requested an installment plan for the rest of the 4.4 million rubles compensation in the Yves Rocher case.

November 2016: Supreme Court Overturns 2013 Sentence

On November 16, 2016, Russia's Supreme Court overturned the 2013 sentence against Alexei Navalny, sending the verdict back to the Leninsky District Court in Kirov for review.

2016: Navalny Speaks Out Against Russian Intervention in Syrian Civil War

In 2016, Navalny opposed Russia's intervention in the Syrian civil war, citing internal issues within Russia that needed attention. He argued against supporting Assad and warned that aligning with Shia Islamist groups could incite anger within Russia's Sunni Muslim community.

2016: Deemphasis on Past Statements on Immigration

Since 2016, Alexei Navalny began to deemphasize his past statements on immigration, signaling a shift in his public stance on the issue.

February 2017: Navalny re-sentenced in Kirovles case; presidential campaign proceeds

On February 8, 2017, the Leninsky district court of Kirov repeated its 2013 sentence in the Kirovles case. Navalny announced his presidential campaign would proceed independently of court decisions.

February 2017: Reiteration of 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: Publication of "He Is Not Dimon to You" and Anti-Corruption Rallies

In March 2017, Alexei Navalny published the investigation "He Is Not Dimon to You," accusing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev of corruption. On March 26, Navalny organized anti-corruption rallies across Russia. On March 27, he was fined and jailed for organizing an illegal protest and resisting arrest.

September 2017: Human Rights Watch accuses Russian police of interference

In September 2017, Human Rights Watch accused Russian police of systematic interference with Navalny's presidential campaign. On September 21, the Council of Europe invited Russian authorities to erase the prohibition on Navalny's standing for election.

December 2017: Navalny barred from running for president

In December 2017, Russia's Central Electoral Commission barred Navalny from running for president in 2018 due to his corruption conviction. Navalny called for a boycott of the election.

2017: Renewed Call for Recognition of Transnistria's Independence

In 2017, Alexei Navalny reiterated his earlier stance from 2008, asserting that Russia should recognize the independence of Moldova's breakaway region of Transnistria.

January 2018: Imprisonment for Staging Protests

In January 2018, Alexei Navalny was imprisoned for staging protests.

February 2018: Government accuses Navalny of assaulting an officer

On February 5, 2018, the government accused Navalny of assaulting an officer during the January protests.

August 2018: Allegations Against Viktor Zolotov

In August 2018, Alexei Navalny alleged that Viktor Zolotov stole at least US$29 million from procurement contracts for the National Guard of Russia.

2018: Criticism of Putin After Orthodox Church of Ukraine Establishment

In 2018, after the establishment of the autonomous Orthodox Church of Ukraine, Alexei Navalny criticized Putin, stating that "What took centuries to create has been destroyed by Putin and his idiots in four years ... Putin is the enemy of the Russian World."

April 2019: Moskovsky Shkolnik files lawsuit against Navalny

In April 2019, Moskovsky Shkolnik, a company linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, filed a lawsuit against Navalny after he alleged the company supplied poor quality food to schools causing a dysentery outbreak.

July 2019: Arrest and Hospitalization

In July 2019, Alexei Navalny was arrested for ten days, and then immediately for 30 days, related to supporting independent candidates in the Moscow City Duma election. On the evening of July 28, he was hospitalized with severe damage to his eyes and skin, with an initial diagnosis of an "allergy" that was disputed. On July 29, he was discharged and taken back to prison, despite objections from his personal physician. Supporters and journalists near the hospital were attacked by the police.

August 2019: Assassination of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili

In August 2019 in Berlin's Tiergarten Park, Vadim Krasikov assassinated Zelimkhan Khangoshvili, a Georgian national and ethnic Chechen who opposed with violence Putin's regime.

April 2020: Yandex artificially places negative commentary about Navalny in search results

In April 2020, Yandex search engine started artificially placing negative commentary about Navalny on the top positions in its search results for his name. Yandex declared this was part of an "experiment" and returned to presenting organic search results.

June 2020: Slander charges launched against Navalny

In June 2020, slander charges were launched against Navalny for defaming a World War II veteran who participated in a promotional video. Navalny called the case politically motivated.

August 2020: Poisoning with Novichok nerve agent

In August 2020, Alexei Navalny was hospitalized after being severely poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent and was medically evacuated to Berlin.

December 2020: Navalny releases video impersonating security official

On December 21, 2020, Navalny released a video where he impersonated a Russian security official and spoke with Konstantin Kudryavtsev, a chemical weapons expert. The call revealed that the poison had been placed on Navalny's clothing.

January 2021: Return to Russia and Detention

In January 2021, Alexei Navalny returned to Russia and was immediately detained for allegedly violating parole conditions while he was hospitalized in Germany.

January 2021: Bellingcat links Navalny's tracking unit to other deaths

In January 2021, Bellingcat, The Insider and Der Spiegel linked the unit that tracked Navalny to other deaths, including activists Timur Kuashev in 2014 and Ruslan Magomedragimov in 2015, and politician Nikita Isayev in 2019.

January 2021: Navalny Arrested Upon Return to Russia

On January 17, 2021, Navalny was arrested upon his return to Russia after receiving medical treatment in Germany for a poisoning attempt.

January 2021: Court orders Navalny's detention and investigation accusing Putin of corruption is published

On January 18, 2021, a court ordered the detention of Navalny until February 15 for violating his parole. The next day, an investigation by Navalny and the FBK accusing President Vladimir Putin of corruption was published.

January 2021: Publication of Investigation into Putin's Estate

On January 19, 2021, two days after his detention, Alexei 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 ($1.35 billion) to construct.

February 2021: Amnesty International briefly revokes Navalny's "prisoner of conscience" designation

In February 2021, Amnesty International briefly revoked Navalny's designation as a prisoner of conscience due to complaints about xenophobic comments. They reversed this decision in May of the same year.

April 2021: Moscow Prosecutor Orders Navalny's Network to Cease Activities

In April 2021, Moscow's prosecutor office ordered Navalny's network of regional offices, including those of the FBK, to cease its activities, pending a court ruling on whether to designate them as extremist organizations. Volkov explained that it would limit many of the group's activities. The move was condemned by Germany and Amnesty International, who stated the objective was to raze Alexei Navalny's movement while he was in prison.

April 2021: Moscow Prosecutor Requests Designation of Navalny's Organizations as Extremist

In April 2021, the Moscow prosecutor office requested the Moscow City Court to designate organizations linked to Navalny, including the Anti-Corruption Foundation and his headquarters, as extremist organizations, claiming they destabilized the socio-political situation. In response, Navalny's aide, Leonid Volkov, stated that Putin had announced full-scale mass political repression in Russia.

April 2021: Navalny's Team Announces Dissolution of Political Network

On April 29, 2021, Navalny's team announced that the political network would be dissolved, in advance of a court ruling in May expected to designate it as extremist. Volkov stated the headquarters would be transformed into independent political organizations. On the same day, a new criminal case was opened against Navalny for allegedly setting up a non-profit organization that infringed on the rights of citizens.

May 2021: Navalny Listed as Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International

In May 2021, Amnesty International (AI) listed Navalny as a prisoner of conscience, stating that his incarceration was primarily due to his political beliefs.

June 2021: Navalny's Political Network Designated as Extremist Organizations

On June 9, 2021, Navalny's political network, including his headquarters and the FBK, were designated as extremist organizations and liquidated by the Moscow City Court. The court upheld the administrative claim of the prosecutor of Moscow city Denis Popov and decided to recognize the Anti-Corruption Foundation as an extremist organization, to liquidate it and to confiscate its assets.

August 2021: Court Upholds Decision to Designate Navalny's Organizations as Extremist

On August 4, 2021, the First Court of Appeal of General Jurisdiction in Moscow upheld the decision of the lower court, designating Navalny's organizations as extremist. The case hearing was held in camera, and Navalny was not a party to the proceedings. The prosecutor stated that the defendants were extremist organizations because they wanted a change of power in Russia.

October 2021: Navalny Designated as "Terrorist" and "Extremist" by Prison Commission

In October 2021, Navalny stated that the Russian prison commission designated him as a "terrorist" and "extremist", but he was no longer regarded as a flight risk.

December 2021: Cassational Appeal Filed

On December 28, 2021, the Anti-Corruption Foundation, the Citizens' Rights Protection Foundation and 18 individuals, including Alexei Navalny, 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 "terrorists and extremists" list.

February 2022: Comparison of Recognition of Separatist Republics to Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

February 2022: Navalny Faces New Trial on Fraud and Contempt of Court Charges

In February 2022, Alexei Navalny faced an additional 10 to 15 years in prison in a new trial on fraud and contempt of court charges. The charges alleged that he stole $4.7m of donations and insulted a judge. Amnesty International called the charges "arbitrary" and "politically motivated".

February 2022: Witness Refuses to Testify Against Navalny; Navalny Condemns Invasion of Ukraine

On February 21, 2022, a prosecution witness refused to testify against Navalny in the trial. On February 24, 2022, Navalny condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and asked the court to include his statement in the trial's protocol, calling the war a distraction.

March 2022: Sentenced to additional 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 described as a sham by Amnesty International.

March 2022: Call for Daily Protests Against Invasion of Ukraine

On March 2, 2022, Alexei Navalny urged Russian citizens to stage daily protests against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, encouraging them not to be "cowards" and to stand against what he called "our insane tsar".

March 2022: Navalny Found Guilty, Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison

On March 22, 2022, Navalny was found guilty of contempt of court and embezzlement and given a 9-year sentence in a maximum-security prison, as well as ordered to pay a fine of 1.2 million rubles. Amnesty International described the trial as a "sham".

March 2022: Court Rejects Appeals, Upholds Judgements

On March 25, 2022, the Second Court of Cassation rejected all the appeals and upheld the judgements of the lower courts regarding the designation of Navalny's organizations as extremist.

April 2022: Condemnation of War Crimes and Russian State Media

In April 2022, Alexei Navalny condemned the war crimes in Ukraine and criticized the "monstrosity of lies" in the Russian state media, calling for "warmongers" among media personalities to be treated as war criminals.

May 2022: Navalny's Appeal Against Sentence Begins, Judgement Upheld

On May 17, 2022, Navalny opened an appeal process against the sentence. On May 24, the Moscow City Court upheld the judgement of the court of first instance.

May 2022: Navalny Officially Notified About New Extremism Charges

On May 31, 2022, Navalny was officially notified about new charges of extremism brought against him, in which he was facing up to an additional 15 years in prison.

June 2022: Navalny Loses Appeal on "Extremist" and "Terrorist" Designation

On June 28, 2022, Navalny lost his appeal regarding his designation as "extremist" and "terrorist".

September 2022: Navalny Placed in Solitary Confinement

On September 7, 2022, Navalny said he had been placed in solitary confinement for the fourth time in just over a month. On September 8, 2022, he said his attorney-client privilege was revoked with prison authorities accusing him of continuing to commit crimes from prison.

2022: Willingness to Fill Jails to Prevent War

In 2022, Alexei Navalny stated that he and his supporters were willing to fill up jails and police vans to prevent war, emphasizing that everything has a price and that this was the time to pay it.

January 2023: Doctors Demand End to Abuse of Navalny; Navalny Transferred to Isolated Punishment Cell

On January 10, 2023, over 400 doctors in Russia signed an open letter to president Putin demanding that prison authorities "stop abusing" Navalny. Less than a month later, Navalny was transferred to an isolated punishment cell for the maximum term of six months.

February 2023: Navalny Condemns Putin's Actions in Ukraine

In February 2023, Alexei Navalny condemned Vladimir Putin for "destroying" Russia's future by occupying Ukraine. He insisted Russia should recognize Ukraine's 1991 borders, pay post-war reparations, and support an international war crimes investigation.

August 2023: Sentenced to 19 years on extremism charges

In August 2023, Alexei Navalny received another sentence of 19 years on extremism charges.

August 2023: Navalny Sentenced to Additional 19 Years in Prison

On August 4, 2023, Navalny was sentenced to an additional 19 years in a "special regime" colony on charges including publicly inciting extremist activity, financing extremist activity, and "rehabilitating Nazi ideology." Navalny expected a "Stalinist" sentence and called on supporters to fight against corruption.

October 2023: Arrest of Navalny's Lawyers

On October 13, 2023, Igor Sergunin, Alexei Liptser and Vadim Kobzev, three of Navalny's lawyers, were arrested and charged with "participation in an extremist community" for passing on his messages. The punishment for this crime is up to 6 years in prison.

October 2023: Navalny's Lawyers Detained on Extremism Charges

On October 13, 2023, three of Navalny's lawyers were detained on charges about participating in an "extremist group". Navalny commented that "Just like in Soviet times, not only political activists are being prosecuted and turned into political prisoners, but their lawyers, too".

December 2023: Navalny's Whereabouts Unknown After Being Removed From Penal Colony

On December 11, 2023, Navalny's aides revealed they had not had any contact with Navalny for six days. He was removed from the penal colony where he had been imprisoned and his current whereabouts were not known. On December 25, 2023, he was discovered to be in the IK-3 "special regime" colony.

February 2024: Navalny calls for anti-Putin protest during 2024 Russian election

In February 2024, Navalny and his allies urged supporters to protest against President Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine. They suggested voting against Putin simultaneously during the third day of the 2024 Russian presidential election.

February 2024: Navalny's Death in Prison and Subsequent Events

On February 16, 2024, Alexei Navalny died in prison. His spokeswoman confirmed his death the following day and demanded his body be returned to his family. On February 27, 2024, Vasily Dubkov, a lawyer for Navalny, was briefly detained in Moscow for "violating public order".

May 2024: Reported Exchange Negotiations Involving Navalny and Evan Gershkovich

On May 24, 2024, it was reported that Navalny and Evan Gershkovich had in early 2024 almost been exchanged for Vadim Krasikov, the assassin of Zelimkhan Khangoshvili in August 2019.

2024: Reported Death and Subsequent Protests

In 2024, the Russian prison service reported that Alexei Navalny had died, sparking protests in Russia and other countries, alongside accusations against Putin's government.

2036: Potential End of Putin's Extended Term

In 2036, under the constitutional amendments that Navalny campaigned against, President Putin's potential extended term in office would end, assuming he serves the maximum two additional terms allowed by the reforms.