Book summary
Jan Matti Dollbaum is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in Russian society. He studies at Bremen University.
On January 17, 2021, Alexei Navalny returned to Russia from Berlin despite widespread fears for his safety, following his near-fatal poisoning months earlier. Arrest upon arrival was inevitable, yet Navalny remained resolute in his decades-long fight for political reform. Born in 1976 near Moscow, Navalny grew up in a family opposed to the Soviet system, embracing liberal ideals and the promise of democracy after the USSR’s collapse. After studying law and economics, he built a successful career before entering politics, where he balanced progressive and nationalist views. Over two decades, Navalny became a prominent anti-corruption activist, co-founding the opposition party Russia of the Future and leading protests against Putin’s regime. His 2011 Smart Voting initiative and grassroots campaigns mobilized diverse supporters, challenging United Russia’s dominance. Despite his 2021 imprisonment on dubious charges, Navalny’s movement persists, exposing corruption and inspiring a new generation of Russians to seek change.
To read rest of the book, you can download
Bitely