Judy and I were privileged to live and work in Moscow, Russia, from 1999 to 2003.
We witnessed the first democratic elections in Russia; we were in Moscow when Putin came to power. Like so many others, Russians and expats, we hoped that Putin would usher in changes for the good of the country. Regrettably, Putin and his minions were intent on seizing power and wealth. Russia became an authoritarian dictatorship, a kleptocracy.
I recently read Alexei Navalnys “Patriot: A Memoir” (available at the Brookings Public Library). Navalny established the Anti-Corruption Foundation in 2011 to document and exposed the kleptocratic, corrupt practices of various government officials, including Putin.
In 2020, shortly before boarding a flight in Siberia, Navalny was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent. He was flown to Germany where he slowly recovered. In 2021, knowing full well that he would likely be arrested and imprisoned, he returned to Moscow. He was arrested before he could even clear customs; after being sentenced, his sentence was repeatedly extended. He died in a Soviet-style penal colony in the Arctic in 2024.
Navalny was a true patriot who abhorred the lies disseminated by the government: I call on everyone not to live by lies. There is no other way. There can be no other solution in our country today (p. 242). In another instance, he wrote: The biggest mistake people in the West make about Russia is that they equate the Russian state with the Russian people. In reality, the two have nothing in common, and the greatest misfortune in our country is that out of all the millions who live here, time and again power ends up in the hands of the most cynical and biggest liars. A huge number of my fellow citizens dont agree with what is going on and didnt choose it (p. 274).”
As I read these excerpts, I was struck by what is happening in our own country today all the lying and the actions our government is taking against our allies. How long will it be before we hear, The biggest mistake people make about the United States is that they equate the state with the American people?”
Navalny loved books and was permitted to have a few books in prison. Note his comments pertaining to the power of books and ideas: Books are a source of instability and dissidence. In a prison . . . [y]ou can be sure however that everyone of your books will be taken away, listed, examined, stamped ‘Checked for Extremist Content,’ and only then given back to you. Such is the power of the written word (p. 344).”
This calls to mind the actions currently being taken by the Trump administration, e.g., the purging of all references to diversity, equity, and inclusion, the revision of government websites, and the list of forbidden words.
Navalny says Putin has stolen the last 20 years from Russia. As he notes, These could have been incredible years, the sort of period that weve never had in our history. We had no enemies. We had peace on all our borders. The price of oil, gas, and our other natural resources was incredibly high. We earned huge amounts from our exports. Putin could have used these years to turn Russia into a prosperous country. All of us could have lived better. (p. 274).
Navalnys courage and resolve stemmed from a profound faith commitment. While in prison, he memorized the Sermon on the Mount. Navalny said, The fact is, Im religious. Im a believer now, and I find it helps me a lot in the work I do. Everything becomes just much more straightforward. I spend less time making my mind up and face fewer dilemmas in life because, you see, there is this book and it fairly clearly says what you need to do in any given situation. Its not always easy to do what this book says, but I try. And thats why its easier for me than for many other people to do politics in Russia (p. 326).
What a contrast to those among us who say Jesus teachings dont work anymore, that they are weak. As Russell Moore, a noted evangelical leader, observes, When we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we’re in a crisis (link).
Yet Trump admires Putin and aspires to be like him! Navalnys book is a must read.
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