This article originally appeared in the Toronto Star.
By Marcus Kolga, February 26, 2024
The tragic murder of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny could have been prevented had the western world resolved itself to holding President Vladimir Putin to account.
We have the tools necessary to prevent the suffering of Putin’s living political prisoners, such as Vladimir Kara-Murza, from meeting a similar fate. Furthermore, we have the means to assist Ukraine in reclaiming its sovereignty and accelerating Putin’s defeat.
The fear deterring ordinary Russians from speaking out is mirrored in the fear that makes us hesitate in acting when Putin’s attacks his neighbours, violently represses dissent, or murders Russian activists like Alexey Navalny.
Putin’s perceived strength is a facade, akin to that of a schoolyard bully, built on his capacity to terrorize others. Navalny’s reassuring words, “I am not afraid, and you should not be afraid either,” should inspire and guide us.
Putin’s totalitarian quest for power and neo-imperialist ambitions are fuelled by every compromise and act of appeasement from the western world. Like that schoolyard bully, Putin will continue to stomp out any glimmer of hope for freedom and democracy, terrorizing not only his own people but also the democratic world, until we overcome our fear and fully commit to stopping him.
Putin’s power and authority are predicated on his ability to instil overwhelming fear among Russians, both internally and externally. Externally, he conjures up various enemies and threats, from Ukraine to NATO and western democratic nations. Internally, he vilifies human rights and anti-corruption activists.
The legitimacy of Putin’s power rests on a carefully constructed facade of being a paternal protector of the Russian people, reminiscent of a modern-day Potemkin Stalin. Surrounded by these fabricated enemies, Putin justifies his violent repression of free expression, his barbaric attacks on neighbouring nations and his brutal repression of dissenters.
This façade is jeopardized when the true nature of his corrupt and repressive regime is revealed by courageous journalists and activists.
The failure of his regime to destroy and recolonize Ukraine would represent an existential threat to Putin and his regime. A victory for Ukraine would likely precipitate the end of his regime and possibly lead to Putin’s own downfall.
To this end, western governments must unite to enact legislation enabling the seizure of $300 billion in frozen Russian government assets. Such legislation has already been introduced in Canada by Sen. Ratna Omidvar and its passage should be an immediate priority for Parliament.
It should be named The Navalny Act to honour Alexey Navalny’s legacy. A portion of those funds should be immediately allocated to supporting Ukraine’s defence, thereby freeing western resources for future reconstruction efforts.
Ukraine’s triumph will also herald a victory for Russians, paving the way for them to secure their freedom and the democracy for which Boris Nemtsov, Navalny and Kara-Murza have sacrificed their lives for.
The cost of our inaction and our failure to challenge and hold Putin accountable will vastly surpass the cost of securing Ukraine’s victory today.
Those seized Russian assets should also be used to support Russian civil society activists and independent journalists forced to continue their work in exile. The truth is poison to Putin’s regime.
Finally, the western world bears a responsibility to defend the vulnerable Russian activists still imprisoned today, like Kara-Murza. Western governments should explore every option to secure the freedom of Kara-Murza and other Russian activists through prisoner swaps and other methods.
Although the recent killing of Navalny has dimmed the hope for a free and democratic future for Russia, a flame of hope remains, kept alive by those who continue to stand up for these values. To halt Putin, we must provide them with all the necessary support and tools to succeed.
Marcus Kolga is a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and founder of DisinfoWatch.
