Free Navalny was a Russian and international campaign launched by the Anti-Corruption Foundation calling for the release of Alexei Navalny after his arrest and imprisonment.
Navalny was detained at the airport immediately after returning from Germany, where he had undergone treatment following the Novichok poisoning. The campaign sought to draw international attention to his persecution and push for his release through protests, public pressure, and international solidarity. In 2021, the campaign was accompanied by mass protests across Russia. The Free Navalny website was used to register supporters and organize actions. One of the largest demonstrations took place on April 21, 2021 — the day before Russian authorities announced their intention to designate ACF as an extremist organization. In January 2023, the campaign was relaunched as a global initiative. Actions took place in hundreds of cities worldwide, once again focusing attention on Navalny, his imprisonment, and Vladimir Putin’s responsibility. The campaign also included the international initiative Putin is a Killer and the SHIZO exhibitions shown across Europe — replicas of a punishment cell created by Oleg Navalny. The installations recreated the conditions in which Alexei spent a significant part of his imprisonment.