Alexei Navalny’s interview with the publication Tvyordy Znak

Public opinion in Russia is deeply divided when it comes to opposition politician Alexei Navalny. Some see him as a puppet of the West, sent to destabilize the country, while others call Navalny the only достойная alternative to the current Russian president. History will decide which view is closer to the truth. But unlike many politicians and officials, including those in Tambov, Alexei Navalny does not hide from journalists. After the opposition figure’s meeting with Tambov residents, it would have been a shame not to take the opportunity to ask a few questions. - Alexei Anatolyevich, this is already your second visit to Tambov this year. During your first trip, you mentioned in passing that your ancestors came from the Tambov region. Local pro-government media immediately seized on that remark and wrote that you deliberately invent nonexistent relatives in every city in order to seem closer to ordinary people. Perhaps you can clear up Tambov residents’ doubts and tell us who in your family came from these parts? - I’m not at all surprised that your journalists wrote that. Here’s my answer. My maternal grandfather was from Tambov. During the Antonov uprising (a major peasant rebellion in Tambov province in 1920–1921), he had to flee from here to the Moscow area. It’s a dark chapter in our family history. It was always forbidden to talk about it, so no one really knows much. - Last time, around 150 people came to your meeting in Tambov. This time, it was about a thousand, maybe even more. Are you pleased? - It’s very gratifying that so many people came. Although I have no doubt that tomorrow your media will write that no one was there, two hundred people at most. In reality, this is a very large rally for a city of this size. And I’m grateful to the people of Tambov for coming and for giving me such a warm welcome. It was extremely important for us to show the local authorities that there is an opposition in this city, and that it is politically far more active than the contingent of supporters the authorities have. Pro-government rallies simply never draw this many people, while ours do. - As I understand it, they whipped up a full-blown hysteria in Tambov: threatening arrests, intimidating people in schools. But despite all that, more than a thousand people came. Today was the largest opposition rally in Tambov’s modern history, and I’m grateful to everyone who attended. I’m proud to be part of this movement. Today once again showed that our election campaign has real prospects and that we can not only perform well in the election, but win it. - Even so, the regional authorities tried by every means possible, if not to derail your meeting, then at least to make sure as few people as possible came. In the city center, a KVN event (a popular Russian comedy competition, “Club of the Funny and Inventive”) was suddenly organized, and students from the two largest local universities were pressured into attending. News portals wrote that some strange organization called “Je Suis Maidan” would identify every person who came to Navalny’s rally, and the street where you were meeting with Tambov residents was closed for repairs on a Sunday, even though no repairs were actually carried out. What do you make of all this? - They do this in every city. Because they do not want to see rallies like this in their small, comfortable little world, where the opposition, if it gathers at all, is supposed to do so somewhere in Moscow, not in the regions, where they believe no one supports it. And then suddenly—bang!—a large crowd shows up. Naturally, local authorities take that painfully. Their main method of fighting us is simply to deny us the opportunity to hold rallies. That’s why today was so important for us. In Tambov, for the first time, we held a meeting on private property, where the law on public rallies does not apply. Thanks to one brave Tambov businessman who gave us the use of his plot of land next to a shopping center. We successfully tested this tactic and will use it again in the future. - Tambov residents came to our meeting because there is real discontent in the region, real problems. And the local authorities are doing everything they can to prove those problems do not exist. Today’s rally showed that this is not the case. - And how should people behave when they are forced to attend United Russia rallies or events like today’s KVN? It is said that the rectors of two Tambov universities, United Russia members Vladimir Stromov and Mikhail Krasnyansky, were practically calling faculty deans personally and ordering them to herd students into attending this KVN event, which was taking place at the same time as your meeting. There were many such complaints from Tambov’s young people today. Navalny will leave, but students could be expelled or failed in their exams... What should they do? - In such cases, I always say the same thing: record everything! The main weapons of those being intimidated should be a video camera and an audio recorder. Today in Ivanovo, a teacher was fired after shouting at schoolchildren not to go to Navalny rallies. But one brave student made an audio recording. As a result, that teacher no longer works at the school. So there is no need to be afraid. Intimidation is the only thing they are capable of. - In your view, are actions like those of the Tambov authorities the result of orders from the Kremlin, or a personal desire to curry favor with the president? - Both. First, the Kremlin said nothing should be allowed to happen, and second, they themselves want to stay in good standing. They want to prove that everything is fine and stable in Tambov Region and that there is no protest sentiment there. For every governor, reporting back to Moscow is a top priority. But now your governor may find that a bit difficult to do...