People of the Year — 2009: Private Individual of the Year Alexei Navalny, a minority shareholder in Russia’s largest companies A lone hero, a calculating businessman, or the manager of the “Expose State Companies” project? We do not know that about Navalny, a minority shareholder in leading companies. And it does not matter. Read in full
The newspaper Vedomosti, in its annual “People of the Year” feature, chose me as one of the six “people” of 2009. For me, this is a very meaningful recognition of my work. Vedomosti is a newspaper that is simply essential reading for anyone who wants to understand what is really happening in the country. Thank you, dear Editorial Board. And it is especially gratifying that, in my case, the editors’ choice matched the results of the readers’ vote. Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I want to say the following: 1. It was not me who was chosen as Person of the Year, but you, my dear readers and participants in the interactive campaigns to pin down the Effective Managers. Let’s be honest: anyone can draft a complaint. But the fact that hundreds of people write complaints together with me—that is a real achievement. For me, the people of the year were the 512 individuals who filed official statements about fraud at Gazprom, and the dozens of Gazprom shareholders working with me now. They are the hundreds of people who helped and are helping me push forward the VTB campaign. They are everyone who responds to my calls and spends their personal time with no motivation other than “for the good, against the bad.” You are amazing. It is impossible to overestimate your help. Truly. 2. “Person of 2009” for me, like the “Person of the Year” from Stockinfocus, is Obama’s Nobel Prize: a moral advance and a wish for success in my work. We’ll try not to lose momentum in 2010 and to do several interesting things. And in 2011 we’ll move directly on to executions. 3. We will win. Have no doubt.