Aleksei Navalny gave his life for his country. An opponent of Vladimir Putin’s corrupt regime, he was poisoned, miraculously survived, then was arrested and imprisoned in a Siberian penal colony, where he died under suspicious circumstances on February 16, 2024.

His book, “Patriot: A Memoir,” published posthumously in October of 2024, is a treasure trove of wisdom, insight, and advice from a man of courage and conviction. Among my favorite quotes, because of its stunning relevance to my own country today, is this one:

“Having spent my first year in prison, I want to tell everyone exactly the same thing I shouted to those who gathered outside the court when the guards were taking me off to the police truck. Don’t be afraid of anything. This is our country and it’s the only one we have. The only thing we should fear is that we will surrender our homeland to be plundered by a gang of liars, thieves, and hypocrites. That we will surrender without a fight, voluntarily, our own future and the future of our children.”

– Aleksei Navalny, “Patriot: A Memoir”

Our two countries, once politically diametrically opposed, are now — beyond all comprehension — fighting the same sort of evil internal forces. Navalny and his contemporaries, and their parents and grandparents, lived their lives under autocratic rule. They are experienced in fighting the pervasive corruption, the lies, and the cruelty of such regimes.

But we Americans are new at this. We need to listen to them, and to learn from them, while there is still time.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/22/26