Mr. Putin has once again revealed his acute anxiety about Mr. Navalny and all that he stands for. Mr. Navalny’s political organization has been decimated, but he is undaunted. He vowed to resume his democratic quest in Russia, through “fair national elections.” He added, “Russia badly needs at least 4–5 cycles of fair elections overseen by independent courts in order to finally break the vicious cycle of authoritarian rebirth, and to permanently affirm that power at every level is only won that way.” He’s right about that, and no amount of deletions, nor his cruel imprisonment, can airbrush that truth away.

Washington Post

Mr. Navalny knew what awaited him, because he knows as well as the dissidents of the Soviet era knew that the one thing a corrupt and authoritarian regime cannot abide is the truth. “I am not afraid. I know that I am in the right.”

The New York Times

He has been threatened, tortured, poisoned, arrested, incarcerated, but they have not been able to actually make him stop speaking... As he himself said once, corruption prospers where there is no respect for human rights, and I believe he is right. The fight against corruption is also a fight for the respect of universal human rights. It is certainly a fight for human dignity, for good governance and for the rule of law.

David Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament

So far, the only person who has a coherent strategy for dealing with Putin is Navalny. He has already shown his compatriots that it is possible to live an honest life in a dishonest political system. It’s an invitation for others to follow. Dictatorships survive because most people are not willing to pay that high a price.

The Atlantic

Navalny now sits in one of Russia’s worst prisons, his life in the hands of a dictator who all evidence says already tried to kill him once for exposing the grotesque corruption of his regime. Navalny saw no alternative to risking everything to make a difference in his country. Even the all-powerful Vladimir Putin recognizes the power of a single man without fear.

Time

If Russia has changed, Navalny has not. His statements still crackle with the same irreverent humor. His foundation remains determined to embarrass the Kremlin and investigate its secrets.

Time

Mr. Putin has once again revealed his acute anxiety about Mr. Navalny and all that he stands for. Mr. Navalny’s political organization has been decimated, but he is undaunted. He vowed to resume his democratic quest in Russia, through “fair national elections.” He added, “Russia badly needs at least 4–5 cycles of fair elections overseen by independent courts in order to finally break the vicious cycle of authoritarian rebirth, and to permanently affirm that power at every level is only won that way.” He’s right about that, and no amount of deletions, nor his cruel imprisonment, can airbrush that truth away.

Washington Post