Protests across Russia have placed President Vladimir Putin under mounting pressure as the arrest of opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, continues to fuel outrage.
Last year, Navalny survived exposure to a toxic nerve agent in what is thought to have been an attempt on his life. Fearing for his safety – and believing the Kremlin was behind the failed assassination attempt – his family and allies arranged for him to be treated in Germany, where he spent several months recovering.
However, Navalny was immediately arrested on his return to Russia this year. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to jail for three and a half years.
The trial sparked intense civil unrest within Russia, which has intensified since his conviction.
Putin is having to contend with this domestic challenge to his Presidency while simultaneously drawing criticism from the European Union and the new US Administration.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken commented: ‘It remains striking to me how concerned and maybe even scared the Russian government seems to be of one man, Mr. Navalny.’
This direct swipe at the Russian government from an important US official is seen as reflecting disquiet in Washington over reports of Russian forces placing bounties on US personnel in Afghanistan, as well as election interference.
At a recent World Economic Forum event, Putin suggested that the entire world was at risk of experiencing a conflict where every nation would fight for its own survival. Commentators says this glimpse into Putin’s world view is of great concern, considering that Russia has one of the world’s largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons.
Image by Дмитрий Осипенко from Pixabay