Russian state media have been criticized for their lack of coverage and minimal airtime given to Alexei Navalny’s reported death. On popular state TV channels like Channel One and Rossiya 1, initial reports of Navalny’s death were slow to come and provided no contextual information about Navalny or his imprisonment. When a liberal politician tried to express condolences on another state TV channel, he was cut off by the host.
Meanwhile, on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram, news of Navalny’s reported death was trending and garnered hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of views.
Prominent figures sympathetic to Navalny’s cause voiced their sadness and incredulity upon hearing the news, while several pro-government figures suggested that the West or Russian opposition stand to benefit from Navalny’s death.
In response, former Russian oligarch turned Putin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, held President Vladimir Putin personally responsible for Navalny’s premature death if the news proves to be true.
Overall, the lack of coverage on state media and the differing reactions on social media highlight the political divide in Russia regarding Navalny and his cause.
Alexei Navalny is a prominent Russian opposition leader and anti-corruption activist. He has been the subject of multiple legal cases and has been imprisoned on several occasions. Navalny gained international attention after he was poisoned with a nerve agent in August 2020, an attack he and his supporters blamed on the Russian government. This incident led to widespread protests and international condemnation. If confirmed, Navalny’s death would mark a significant moment in Russian political history and have reverberations both domestically and globally.
Read More Breaking News
