Remembering Alexei Navalny: 4 Ways to Keep His Cause Alive

Alexei Navalny: A fearless hero to fighting corruption in Russia

Posted on 2024-02-19 00:00:00
How do we keep Alexei Navalny's cause alive? Here are a few thoughts on the matter by Angie Holzer, CEO and founder of WikiCharities.

Remembering Alexei Navalny


4 Ways to Keep His Cause Alive.

by Angie Holzer, CEO and Founder of WikiCharities

When I heard about Alexei Navalny's death a few days ago, I openly wept. I was half shocked and half angry.  Shocked that we live in a world where Putin could openly kill someone who opposed him (which I know he's been doing for years) and angry that we as citizens of the world allow someone like Putin (you can also insert quite a few other names of leaders here) to be in power and suppress their own people. 

I've been following Alexei Navalny and his efforts for many years now, and I've been silently rooting for him and his team to make progress in reducing corruption in Russia and expanding their freedoms.  As I sit here and mourn the loss of Mr. Navalny, I ask myself how we can continue his fight.  What can we do to help move this cause forward in reducing corruption in Russia and in our own lands. Here are my thoughts... feel free to add your own ideas to the list.

1. Support the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK)

Continue to support the Anti-Corruption Foundation that was founded by Alexei Navalny.  Read about the journey of FBK and how Russia's corrupt system tried to shut it down before it was launched as an international nonprofit organizationin 2022.  

2. Educate Yourself on What's Happening in your Community

First, we need to know what's going on in our own community.  Learn about your political leaders and the types of corruption that are happening in your own backyard. Then encourage your local, state and country leaders to become a part of committees and the creation of laws that support the freedoms of people around the world. 

3. Get Involved

Getting involved can be different for everyone. This could mean finding a charity in your community and supporting their efforts financially or with your time. This could also simply be liking and sharing content that brings corruption to light on your social media platforms. But it's important that we take #2 seriously. We need to educate ourselves about the causes prior to simply liking and sharing. There are too many posts being shared without people educating themselves on what's happening. And the Kremlin (or those who are causing the corruption) often succeed in getting their messages out there because we are too lazy to educate ourselves on what's really happening. 

4. Maintain a Wider Vision for Future Generations 

I recently watched the movie "Cabrini" - a movie about an amazing Italian, Catholic sister named Mother Cabrini, who dedicated her life to helping and serving children and people in need.  In this movie, there is a line that really struck me. It's a scene where an Irish Priest was sharing his memory of his father. He tells of how his father, living in New York, did back breaking work with little pay. Then he would get drunk to mask his pain. But one night, when he was drunk, he told his son - "We work like dogs, so you, the next generation, can sit in your homes and drink water from the tap." (quoted roughly).  What a profound statement. There have been many people in the past who have suffered to give the next generation a better life. We need to remember this as we face the challenges of today and work to give the next generations more freedom and less suppressive regimes.  Thank you Alexei Navalny for such an example.

Who is Alexei Navalny?


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Alexei Navalny

(4 June 1976 – 16 February 2024) was a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and political prisoner. He organized anti-government demonstrations and ran for office to advocate reforms against corruption in Russia and against President Putin and his government. 

Navalny was a Russian Opposition Coordination Council member, the leader of the Russia of the Future party and founder of the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK). He was recognized by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, and was awarded the Sakharov Prize for his work on human rights.

Navalny was poisoned, imprisoned, and ultimately killed for the efforts in fighting corruption in Russia.

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