Photo : REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov
IN FOCUS
By Joeana Cera Matthews
Russia: One year since Alexei Navalny’s arrest
On 17 January, Kremlin dissident Alexei Navalny marked a year since his arrest. On the day, Navalny tweeted expressing his lack of “regret” regarding his decision to return to Russia, despite the implication of a second arrest. The occasion also saw many international and regional actors calling for his release. In 2020, a murder attempt on Navalny resulted in being poisoned leading to his treatment in Germany. On returning to Russia, he was detained by police at immigration in Moscow. However, the Kremlin denied having any role in the poisoning and had blamed the West for plotting to taint their reputation.
Alexei Navalny: “Putin’s most prominent critic”
According to the Kremlin spokesperson: "The non-systemic opposition (Navalny's allies) crossed a red line a while ago. What they were doing was using provocations and all methods to try to stir up social unrest… The aim is to maintain stability in society.” In 2021, Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK) was closed down after being labelled an extremist organization, implying no member of the organization could run for public office. This kept them from participating in the 2020 parliamentary elections.
Navalny’s popularity was a threat to Vladimir Putin staying in power. Surprisingly, the Russian repression of the opposition and media freedom largely coincides with the rise and fall of Navalny and his FBK group. Considered Putin’s most vocal political opponent, Navalny had managed to garner unprecedented popularity implying a direct challenge to Putin. As a result, Putin decided to term Navalny and his organization as a “threat to Russian stability.” The move removed Navalny and his allies from the competition, altogether.
The aftermath
Since 02 February 2021, Navalny has been imprisoned in a collective labour colony in Russia’s Vladimir Oblast region, east of Moscow. He currently serves a two-and-a-half years prison sentence for allegedly violating a parole. Apart from this, he faces six additional charges. Meanwhile, Navalny’s allies have been blacklisted, forced to leave the country, or restricted from free movement.
On 25 January, Russia’s Federal Service for Financial Monitoring added Navalny to a database of "terrorists and extremists". This addition implied Navalny is now categorized along with right-wing nationalist organizations like Afghanistan's militant Islamist Taliban and the extremist "Islamic State" (IS) group. Along with him, nine other members of the FBK were also added. Navalny's brother Oleg Navalny has also been jailed by the Russian Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN). According to Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director Marie Struther: “... the politician, his supporters and Russian civil society organizations have suffered a relentless onslaught of repression. Dozens of Navalny’s associates and supporters are facing prosecutions on bogus charges, while a growing number of them are already in prison.”
Nonetheless, Navalny’s efforts have been recognized by the global community. In October 2021, the European Parliament honoured him with the Sakharov Prize, a laurel that has earlier been received by Nelson Mandela, Aung San Suu Kyi and Malala Yousafzai.
What next for Navalny?
Navalny was quick to criticize the West with regard to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. He accused the West of dancing to Russia’s tunes since Putin’s attempts at escalating tensions was a “smokescreen” that was driven by the fear of dissent within Russia. Navalny, has maintained long correspondences with magazines, one among which was the Time, saw the magazine citing him: “It isn’t NATO that keeps Putin up at night; it’s the space for democratic dissent that NATO opens up along his border.” In one of his many letters to the Time correspondent, Navalny added: “Time and again the West falls into Putin’s elementary traps… It just takes my breath away, watching how Putin pulls this on the American establishment again and again.”
Despite his pending prison sentence, Navalny’s online presence remains stronger than ever. His opinions on contemporary issues and updates from his daily life are regularly published on Twitter and other social media websites. To make things worse for the Kremlin, on 25 January, the Sundance Film Festival premiered a documentary titled ‘Navalny,’ portraying the events that led to his prison sentence, the Kremlin’s role in it and the agenda behind it all. Boosting an already popular Navalny, the film sees him saying: “As I became more and more famous guy, I was totally sure that my life became safer and safer because I am kind of famous guy — and it will be problematic for them just to kill me… I was very wrong.”
References:
Johnny Oleksinski, “'Navalny' doc at Sundance hits Putin where it hurts,” New York Post, 26 January 2022.
“Russia adds Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny to ′terrorist′ list,” Deutsche Welle, 25 January 2022.
Callie Patteson, “Alexei Navalny accuses US of 'accepting Putin's agenda' during Ukraine tensions,” New York Post, 19 January 2022.
Simon Shuster, “The Man Putin Fears,” Time, 19 January 2022.
“Alexei Navalny says he has ′no regrets′ 1 year since arrest,” Deutsche Welle, 17 January 2022.
“EU urges Moscow to free Navalny on anniversary of his arrest,” Reuters, 17 January 2022.
“One year after jailing, Aleksei Navalny and his associates in a “living hell”,” Amnesty International USA, 16 January 2022.
Jack Parrock, “Sakharov Prize: European Parliament honors Alexei Navalny,” Deutsche Welle, 15 December 2021.
Anton Zverev, Darya Korsunskaya and Andrew Osborn, “'New normal': Kremlin says tough approach to Navalny allies here to stay,” Reuters, 22 September 2021.
IN BRIEF
By Padmashree Anandhan and Ashwin Dhanabalan
MONTENEGRO
The government of Montenegro in the brink of collapse
On 27 January, Montenegro government reached a breakpoint of collapse as the coalition parties came into conflict over ideological differences. Previously, the coalition government was formed in December 2020 winning one of the strongest parties, Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS). The first step taken to dissolve the leadership was taken on 19 January when the Deputy Prime Minister filed a motion for a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapić and the government. (“Montenegro lurches back into political crisis as former allies try to oust PM,” Euro news, 27 January 2022
SPAIN
Catalonia passes resolution in memory of women executed for witchcraft
On 26 January, Members of Parliament in Catalonia approved a resolution to rehabilitate the memory of more than 700 women killed. The women were accused of being witches and were victims of execution; their details were discovered by the scientific journal Sapiens and Barcelona's historian Pau Castell. BBC reported: "We have recently discovered the names of more than 700 women who were persecuted, tortured and executed between the 15th and 18th centuries." Historians in Spain discovered that the region of Catalonia was one of the first regions in the 1400s to carry out mass witch hunts and was considered one of the worst areas for executions. Pro-independence and left-wing MPs mentioned how women were "victims of misogynistic persecution" in the middle ages. As reported by Euronews: "An estimated 50,000 people were condemned to death for witchcraft across Europe between 1580 and 1630, around 80% of whom were women." ("Catalonia pardons women executed for witchcraft," BBC, 27 January 2022; "Catalonia's parliament pardons hundreds of women executed for 'witchcraft'," Euronews, 26 January 2022)
Spain’s national institution proposes investigation into sexual misconduct case
On 27 January, for the first time the three left leaning political parties, Podemos, ERC (The Republican Left of Catalonia), and EH Bildu (Euskal Herria Bildu) of Spain announced a proposal to create a commission of inquiry to look into pedophilia and sexual misconduct of the Catholic Church. The other European countries such as Germany and France have begun investigations on the same. (“Spain: Left-wing parties call for inquiry commission into church sexual abuse allegations,” Euro news, 27 January 2022)
SWEDEN
Sweden approves new nuclear waste storage facility
On 27 January, the government of Sweden approved the site in Forsmark, located in the north of Stockholm to function as the nuclear waste storage facility. The facility is planned in a way to hold the nuclear waste in the bedrock level and is expected to get filled by the end of 70 years, upon which the bentonite clay will be used to seal the facility. So far, Sweden has three nuclear power plants which produce close to 8,000 tonnes of radioactive waste. In recent days, the nuclear waste and disposal mechanism is turning into a major problem, especially among European countries. (“Sweden approves plans for Forsmark nuclear waste storage site,” Deutsche Welle, 28 January 2022)
UKRAINE
Kyiv residents prepare for war
On 27 January, as tensions between Ukraine and Russia escalate, and western countries calling back their citizens and officials, the residents of Ukraine said they were already preparing for war. A Kyiv resident Lolita said: "…The exchange rate for the dollar is rising, prices are getting higher…My friends and I are thinking of going to Europe for some time and wait there." Another citizen, Oleh, expressed: "It concerns every Ukrainian. Some people have started gathering food, some are cleaning their weapons and preparing for an attack. There is a lot of information about this in the media. Everyone knows about this threat." Ukrainian officials have urged people to remain calm and worry that Russia could take advantage of the environment of fear. Meanwhile, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, and France met in Paris to discuss the de-escalation of tensions using the Normandy format talks. ("'People in Ukraine are ready for war': Kyiv residents speak on Russia tensions," Euronews, 27 January 2022; James Marson, "On the Brink of War With Russia, Ukrainians Are Resigned and Prepared," The Wall Street Journal, 24 January 2022)
INTERNATIONAL
Denmark: Withdrawal of troops from Mali
On 27 January, Denmark announced the pullback of its troops from Mali after the transitional junta government demanded Copenhagen for an immediate withdrawal. The withdrawal led to a major setback for France's attempts to lead counter-terrorism operations in the region of Sahel. Tensions had resumed in Mali as the transitional government failed to organize elections after the military coup, which lead to International actors imposing sanctions on the junta government. Denmark had sent 105 military personnel to Mali after the country invited them to join the European special forces to fight against Islamist militants in the region. But, the Mali government clarified that they had not decided to allow Danish troops to be deployed in Mali. The withdrawal has highlighted Mali's issues with France as Bamako was a former French colony. The junta lashed out on France saying it should keep its "colonial reflexes" under check. (Nikolaj Skydsgaard and John Irish, "Denmark pulls Mali troops out as junta takes swipe at France," Reuters, 27 January 2022; "Denmark to start pulling troops out of Mali after junta's demand," France24, 27 January 2022)
EU accuses China of illegal trade practices with Lithuania
On 27 January, the EU launched an official dispute on behalf of Lithuania with the World Trade Organisation(WTO). The EU accused China of boycotting Lithuanian goods; But, Beijing refued the allegations. European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said: "For the time-being we have not found a negotiated solution. That's why we are now exercising our WTO rights." He justified Lithuania's stance with Taiwan, saying: "The EU is respecting the One-China policy and our assessment is that steps taken by Lithuania do not step out of the One-China policy framework." China has denied all allegations and stated that it rejected goods due to customs issues. Since the case has been taken to the WTO, it will positively respond, but its intervention would impact regional trade. (Jessica Parker, "Lithuania-China row: EU escalates trade dispute with Beijing," BBC, 27 January 2022)
US warns Russia on halting Nord Stream 2 pipeline in case of invasion
On 27 January, the US State Department spokesperson warned Russia that if Ukraine was invaded, the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would not go forward. Although inclusion of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline as part of the sanctions on Russia is still under debate. According to the previous government under Angela Merkel the pipeline was considered entirely commercial, but with regard to the current government, it perceives the other way. The German Chancellor said: "Should this situation occur, we will jointly act. There would be a high price." The US President Joe Biden is scheduled to meet Qatar’s Emir on 31 January to discuss on the stability of global energy supply and the security situation in the Middle East. (“US: Nord Stream 2 will not move forward if Russia invades Ukraine,” Deutsche Welle, 27 January 2022; “Scoop: Qatar emir to visit White House on Monday,” Axios, 25 January 2022)