Prosecutors have demanded that the ACF and Navalny’s regional headquarters be designated extremist organizations.
Now that really is a heavy blow, no question about it.
We know how to work under constant raids and frozen bank accounts, under administrative arrests and criminal cases. We spent ten years building our political organization, learning how to survive under unimaginable pressure, adapt, stay effective, and win in the most impossible situations. And through it all, every minute, we have conducted our work exclusively peacefully and entirely within the law. Peaceful rallies, participation in elections, anti-corruption investigations, election monitoring, civic activism.
In 2019, they tried to destroy us as an organization through the “ACF case.” We got through it—despite all our accounts being frozen, all our equipment being seized, and hundreds of raids. In 2020, Putin played his trump card and tried to settle the matter once and for all by killing Alexei Navalny. But he survived. And as an organization, we only grew stronger. What could be worse?
Now we know. 2021 will be the hardest year for us. Alexei Navalny is in prison, 18 days into a hunger strike, on the verge of vital organ failure. We are preparing the biggest rally in Russia’s history—and preparing to crush United Russia in the elections this fall. We are doing this peacefully, transparently, and openly. And Putin’s response is just as clear: he is announcing large-scale political repression.
There is little doubt about what decision Putin’s “court” will make on the prosecutors’ lawsuit. Very soon, the ACF and Navalny’s regional headquarters will be labeled “extremist organizations.”
This will open the door to hundreds of criminal cases, and every one of our employees will be at risk. Simply working for the ACF or one of the regional headquarters officially, on the books, with all taxes paid—will be enough to get someone sentenced to two to six years. That is the best-case scenario. In the worst case, there could be criminal charges even against volunteers, supporters, people handing out leaflets, or anyone involved in our activities in any way. It will probably not go that far, but I have to say it plainly: when the Kremlin has completely lost its mind, you have to be prepared for any madness.
The darkest time is beginning for free-thinking people and for civil society in Russia. In effect, the Kremlin has just demanded that everyone who disagrees with it be declared extremists. Everyone who opposes the palaces, rising prices, the higher retirement age, and corruption. Anyone ready to protest against this will now be branded an extremist.
It is completely obvious that the Kremlin’s new attack is connected to the upcoming rally and the September elections. So it is clear what the response must be: hold the rally (it may well be the last rally for the next several years), and win the elections (they may well be the last elections for many years to come).
We will have to find answers to some very difficult questions: how to ensure the safety of our staff, volunteers, and supporters; how to continue our work under these new conditions. Of course, we do not have instant answers. But we will find them. We will continue our work—peacefully, publicly, effectively. Russia will be free!
Ivan Zhdanov, Director of the ACF Leonid Volkov, Head of Navalny’s regional headquarters