Alexei Navalny's sudden death in February left his team facing the challenge of sustaining an opposition movement against Russian President Vladimir Putin without their charismatic leader. Despite the loss, Navalny's allies have returned to their work of undermining Putin's power.
Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, has endorsed a protest called 'Noon Against Putin' scheduled for Sunday, urging Russians to demonstrate their discontent with Putin's rule and his actions against Ukraine. The protest is seen as a way to show unity against corruption and lawlessness.
Navalny's followers have expressed a mix of emotions since his death, with some feeling inspired by the crowds at his funeral and others feeling a sense of defeat. Yulia Navalnaya has been actively continuing her husband's mission, meeting with world leaders and calling for more sanctions on Putin's allies.
Navalny's team has been urging supporters to vote against Putin in the upcoming election and has conducted a phone campaign to reach out to ordinary Russians. Despite facing challenges and threats, they remain determined to push for change.
Efforts to disrupt the 'Noon Against Putin' protest are underway, with fake emails circulating and warnings from authorities about unauthorized rallies near polling stations. The personal risks for Putin's opponents remain high, as seen in the recent attack on Navalny's top strategist.
With Navalny gone, some supporters are recalibrating their expectations for the opposition movement's future. While Yulia Navalnaya has taken up the cause, there are concerns about whether the movement can maintain its momentum without Navalny's leadership.
