Hi, this is Navalny. Of course, I’ve heard this phrase many times: “You cannot take away the freedom of someone who is free inside.” And now I’m honestly asking myself: “So, does it work?” Believe me, it does.
The iron doors slam shut behind me with a deafening clang, but I feel like a free man. Because I am certain that I am right. Because of your support. Because of my family’s support.
The brazen lawlessness that has surrounded me from the moment I stepped off the plane is Putin’s personal revenge against me. For surviving, for daring to return. And now also for exposing his palace. But even more than that, it is a message from Putin and his friends to the entire country: “See what we can do? We’ll spit on the law and crush anyone who dares to stand against us. We are the law.”
And once again (I know, I keep saying this, but what else can I do?) I urge you: do not let them intimidate you. Do not let yourselves be deceived by this illusion of strength and swagger. What kind of strength is it if they have to secretly poison people and jail them unlawfully? Where is their nationwide support if they can win elections only by keeping independent candidates off the ballot, and if their fear of protesters forces them to shut down metro stations?
They can hold on to power and use it for personal enrichment only by relying on our fear. But if we overcome that fear, we can free our homeland from this handful of thieving occupiers. And we will do it. We must do it. For ourselves and for future generations.
Truth is on our side. Stay free.