Take A Shot And Keep Going: Director Of Oscar Winning Doc ‘Navalny’ Shares Heartfelt Message Following Death Of Putin Critic

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What The Death Of Alexei Navalny, Putin’s Biggest Political Adversary, Means For The Campaign To Oppose His Regime

Alexei Navalny, who crusaded against official corruption and staged massive anti-Kremlin protests as President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe, died Friday in the Arctic penal colony where he was serving a 19-year sentence, Russia’s prison agency said. He was 47. The stunning news of Navalny’s death — less than a month before an election that will give Putin another six years in power — brought renewed criticism and outrage directed at the Kremlin leader who has cracked down on all opposition at home. People laid flowers at monuments to victims of Soviet-era political repressions in some Russian cities, but there was no immediate indication that Navalny’s death, which will deal a heavy blow to the beleaguered and fractured opposition, would spark large protests. Joining us to discuss is Daniel Roher, director of the 2022 documentary Navalny and Regina Smyth, professor of political science at Indiana University and author of “Elections, Protest, and Authoritarian Regime Stability: Russia 2008–2020.” With files from the Associated Press

Don't give up.

That was the answer Alexei Navalny gave during an interview for the 2022 documentary Navalny when asked what message he would leave behind to the Russian people if he were ever jailed or killed.

"If they decide to kill me," Navalny continued in Russian, "it means that we are incredibly strong. We need to utilize this power to not give up, to remember we are a huge power that is being oppressed by these bad dudes. We don't realize how strong we actually are."

He ended his message with a quote often attributed to 18th century Irish politician Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Russian officials reported Friday that Navalny died at a federal penal colony above the Arctic Circle. He was 47.

Navalny has long been an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He almost died when members of the Kremlin attempted to assassinate him in 2020 using nerve agent poison. He survived and recovered in Germany before returning to Russia, where he'd been jailed ever since.

Daniel Roher — the director behind Navalny, which won Best Documentary Feature at the 2023 Academy Awards — spoke with LAist about Navalny's lasting impact and his takeaways from the time they spent together during the filming of the documentary.

Shocked but not surprised

“This was something that we were all thinking about as we were making the film," Roher said. "It's something that Navalny, having survived previous assassination attempts, certainly was thinking about. Yet in spite of that, there was something about the news this morning. In addition to just leaving me feeling gutted and angry, I was also so surprised. Why now? Why in this moment?”

Alexei Navalni on a screen dressed in blue stands behind bars with his arms through the gaps

Navalny’s motivation

“He wanted to usher in what he called the beautiful Russia of the future. A Russia that was democratic, a Russia that was free, that was free of corruption, which is a problem that plagues the country," Roher added. "He wanted to reintroduce Russia to this global community in this 21st century. And of course, going up against an authoritarian strongman like Vladimir Putin is very tricky work and the personal danger that he took on as a result of his activism was immense.”

“[His death] was something that we were all thinking about as we were making the film. It's something that Navalny, having survived previous assassination attempts, certainly was thinking about."

— Daniel Roher, director of "Navalny"

Navalny’s love for life

“Navalny was a guy who was charismatic and funny, and would want to just sit around have a beer and talk about politics or filmmaking or whatever he was interested in in that moment. And it really does feel for me that a light has gone out in this world, and I think that this loss will reverberate for decades and decades to come."

Navalny's lasting message

“I know that if he were here right now, he would say, ‘Okay, everyone stop crying. We're going to raise a shot, take a shot of vodka and we're going to move on because the work continues. Take this anger, take this bitterness and disappointment and sadness and let's channel it into action. As long as this regime continues, we have work to do.’”

Staying in touch

Roher said that he has stayed in touch with Navalny and his family in the years since the documentary, and that Navalny's wife, Yulia, and daughter, Dasha, were "tearing up the dance floor" at his wedding, not long after his Oscar win.

"I love them both dearly, and I am just gutted for them."

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