Alexei Navalny, July 20, 2019 in Moscow.

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Maxim ZMEYEV / AFP

  • The main opponent of Vladimir Putin appeared before the Russian courts on Tuesday for violation of his judicial control.

  • Alexei Navalny has been imprisoned since returning to Russia on January 17 after five months of recovery in Germany following poisoning.

  • “He went from being a political opponent, with whom one can agree or not, to that of a courageous fighter.

    Now there is respect for his action and for the risk he took, ”analyzes Anna Colin Lebedev, a specialist in post-Soviet societies.

“The most important thing in this trial is to scare a huge number of people.

We jail one to scare millions.

This Tuesday, Alexei Navalny once again attacked the Kremlin head-on, while Russian justice sentenced him to a prison sentence.

Denouncing the thousands of arrests during rallies in recent weeks, the Russian opponent, supported by Western countries, has also used this highly publicized trial as a platform.

Largely ignored by the national media, not represented in Parliament, the opponent has established himself as the main voice of the opposition in a country where traditional formations have been silenced.

Sworn enemy of the Kremlin, Navalny has one ambition: to bring down Vladimir Putin, in power for more than 20 years.

Despite his new notoriety, he nevertheless remains a divisive figure in the Russian political landscape.

A "revealer" of rebellion

In recent weeks, the former lawyer has been behind major protests in Russia.

Arrested on January 17 when he returned home, after having been treated for poisoning in Novichok in Germany, Alexeï Navalny immediately called on the Russians to "not be afraid" and to go out into the streets to protest.

Despite police crackdown, tens of thousands of people gather in more than 100 Russian cities, a record.

“Alexeï Navalny went from being a political opponent, with whom one can agree or not, to that of a courageous fighter.

Now, there is respect for his action and for the risk he took, ”analyzes Anna Colin Lebedev, lecturer at the University of Paris Nanterre, specialist in post-Soviet societies.

Jean de Gliniasty, research director at IRIS and former French ambassador to Moscow describes him as "a new element", which "played the role of revealing, of mobilizing".

“It has succeeded in becoming an essential part of Russian domestic political life.

He made himself known to more people, and he sowed doubts about Putin, ”he adds.

A fight "to life to death"

His latest attack: the broadcast of a two-hour video accusing Vladimir Putin of having had a sumptuous palace built.

The survey hits the mark, totaling more than 100 million views.

The Russian president is forced to deny himself.

Between the two men, the opposition is frontal.

For Navalny, the departure of the president is a priority.

“Putin is not his political opponent, today he is his personal enemy.

He is in a life-to-death game, ”says Anna Colin Lebedev, who describes a character who“ seeks reversal ”.

Navalny made this personal confrontation with Putin his fight, but what do we know about his ideas?

“Apart from strengthening Parliament, it has no political program,” says Jean de Gliniasty.

“We don't know if he's right-wing or left-wing, we think he's liberal, right-wing and a little nationalist.

He notably approved the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

Navalny "is not unifying," said Anna Colin Lebedev.

Moreover, she affirms, during the demonstrations, he failed to mobilize beyond the circles of the population critical of the capacity, "as in Belarus, where the protests really set society ablaze, including among loyal, apolitical people.

Among the protesters, many do not support the character 100%.

He is not unanimous, we suspect him of being a little authoritarian, ”adds the researcher.

The "smart vote", weapon of massive disapproval

At the start of his political career, he even gave nationalist speeches with racist overtones and paraded at the Russian March, an annual gathering of tiny right-wing or monarchist groups.

Since then, he has stepped up his actions and made himself known internationally.

Having become a major figure in the opposition, there is little chance that he will ever come to power.

“At this stage, it does not appear to be a political alternative,” says Jean de Gliniasty.

If he does not gain access to the Kremlin, Navalny will in any case have left the Russians with a weapon to express their discontent: the “smart vote”.

“He asked his supporters to vote everything except United Russia, Putin's party.

It had a local influence that we were able to measure in Novosibirsk and Tomsk, and it will certainly have some in the future, ”explains Jean de Gliniasty.

What upset the order established during the next legislative elections in September?

“It is also clear that the government will seek to make it ineligible forever.

But as it has already succeeded in surprising, it can continue to surprise, ”concludes Anna Colin Lebedev.

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