Patriot, the memoir of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, indicates he anticipated dying in prison. The New Yorker magazine published excerpts ahead of its October 22 release. Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, campaigned tirelessly against corruption in Russia. He died in February in a remote Arctic prison while serving a 19-year sentence on charges he denounced as politically motivated. Despite Russian denials, Navalny blamed the Kremlin for his previous poisoning and imprisonment.
Navalny's memoir captures his resolve against authoritarianism while exploring his coping mechanisms behind bars. In his own words from March 22, 2022, he resigned himself to his fate, envisioning "the worst thing that could happen" and accepting it. "I will spend the rest of my life in prison and die here," he wrote. Yet, he remained determined to fight from prison: "I am trying to do everything I can from here to put an end to authoritarianism." Navalny's humor comes through as well; the memoir chronicles absurd experiences, such as enduring hours on a wooden bench beneath a portrait of Putin.
Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's widow, emphasized the memoir's significance, describing it as a testament to his life and dedication to the anti-dictatorship struggle. She hopes the book will inspire others to uphold their convictions. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, Patriot has been translated into 11 languages and will "definitely" be available in Russian, per Navalnaya. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
,
uBlock 
,
and
Ghostery 
)
