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Yulia Navalnaya

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In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Borisovna and the family name is Abrosimova.
Yulia Navalnaya
Юлия Навальная
Navalnaya in 2024
Born
Yulia Borisovna Abrosimova

(1976-07-24) 24 July 1976 (age 48)
Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Alma materPlekhanov Russian University of Economics
OccupationEconomist
Known forOpposition to Vladimir Putin
Political partyYabloko (2000–2011)
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2000; died 2024)​
Children2

Yulia Borisovna Navalnaya (née Abrosimova; Russian: Юлия Борисовна Навальная, née Абросимова, IPA: [ˈjʉlʲɪjə nɐˈvalʲnəjə]; born 24 July 1976) is a Russian public figure and economist. The widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, she has been described in media as the "first lady" of the Russian opposition. After her husband's death, Navalnaya announced that she would continue his work. As of 1 July 2024, she is the chairperson of the Human Rights Foundation, and she also leads the Anti-Corruption Foundation, which Navalny had founded in 2011.

Early life and education

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Navalnaya was born Yulia Borisovna Abrosimova on 24 July 1976 in Moscow, Soviet Union, in the family of scientist Boris Aleksandrovich Abrosimov (1952–1996) and Alla Vladimirovna Abrosimova.[1] Her mother worked for the Ministry of Light Industry; her parents divorced when Navalnaya was in fifth grade, and her mother married a second time, to an employee of the USSR State Planning Committee. In 2020, journalist Oleg Kashin alleged that Navalnaya's father was Boris Borisovich Abrosimov, then serving as secretary of the Russian embassy in Great Britain, associated with the special services, and that her aunt was Elena Borisovna Abrosimova, one of the authors of the Russian constitution. In response, Navalny published a death certificate for his father-in-law, dated 1996.[2]

Navalnaya graduated from the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the Plekhanov Russian Economic Academy. She later served an internship abroad and undertook postgraduate studies.[3]

Career

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Navalnaya worked for some time at a Moscow bank.[4]

Supporting her husband

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see caption
Navalnaya with Alexei Navalny at a 12 June 2013 march in Moscow

In 2000, Navalnaya, together with her husband Alexei Navalny, joined the Yabloko party,[3] which she left in May 2011.[5]

After 2007, Navalny gained fame in Russia as a blogger and opposition politician. Navalnaya became the first secretary and assistant to her husband. The family's life became noticeably more public, so that Navalnaya was in the spotlight as the "first lady of the Russian opposition".[4] Observers note that she never tried to position herself as an independent figure: Navalnaya always behaves like a devoted wife and companion ("the Decembrist's wife"), ready for harsh statements and decisive actions if her husband needs it, but not directly related to politics. She spoke at a number of rallies; she called the head of the National Guard of Russia Viktor Zolotov, who in September 2018 challenged Alexei Navalny to a "duel", as a "thief, coward and impudent bandit".[6][7]

Navalnaya and Navalny hugging after Navalny's release from custody after a successful appeal to the prosecutor's office on 19 July 2013
Navalnaya and Navalny hugging after Navalny's release from custody after a successful appeal to the prosecutor's office on 19 July 2013

Navalnaya attracted close public attention in the late summer and early fall of 2020, when her husband was urgently hospitalised in Omsk following a suspected poisoning. She demanded that Navalny be released to Germany for treatment, and even turned directly to Russian president Vladimir Putin.[8][9][10] After German experts confirmed Navalny's poisoning, Russian physician Leonid Roshal said that no poisonous substance was found in Navalny's samples in Russia and suggested creating a Russian-German team on this matter. Navalnaya accused him of acting "not as a doctor, but as the voice of the state."[11][12][13] She followed her husband to Berlin, was next to him at the Charité hospital, and Navalny later posted a message "Yulia, you saved me".[14] Novaya Gazeta and its audience named Navalnaya its 2020 Hero of the Year.[15]

In January 2021, Navalnaya returned to Russia with her husband. After Navalny was detained at the border control, she made a statement that the arrest and the closure of the airport in Vnukovo were a manifestation of the Russian authorities' fear of Navalny. "Alexei said that he is not afraid", she said. "— And I'm not afraid either. And I urge you all not to be afraid."[16] Later, Navalnaya accused the security officials of "persecut[ing] [her] as the wife of an enemy of the people." She wrote on Instagram: "The Year of '37 has come, and we did not notice."[17][18][19] On 21 January, Navalnaya announced that she would go attend the 2021 Russian protests to demand the release of her husband.[20] On 23 January, she was detained, but released the same evening.[21]

On 16 February 2024, the Russian prison service announced that her husband had died in prison at the IK-3 penal colony in Yamalo-Nenets, north of the Arctic Circle. His supporters suspected that he had been tortured in prison, and they, along with Western world leaders, believe that he was murdered by prison officials on the eve of him being freed in a prison swap with a German prisoner.[22][23] Navalnaya vowed that she would continue his work after his death.[24]

On 9 July 2024, Russia's Basmanny District Court ordered the arrest of Navalnaya (who was not in or living in Russia at the time) for "participating in an extremist community".[25] Days later, she was placed on Russia's official list of terrorists and extremists.[26]

Independent political career

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In September 2020, after the poisoning of Navalny, opinions began to appear that Navalnaya was beginning to play an independent political role and might become the "Russian Tsikhanouskaya" — the leader of the entire opposition.[27][28][29] Political analyst Konstantin Kalachev said in January 2021 that Navalnaya's role had changed: "From the wife of a politician, she is herself becoming a politician"; "she has charisma and charm, and can easily replace her husband if necessary".[30] Political strategist Abbas Gallyamov compared Navalnaya to Corazon Aquino, the wife of the main opposition leader in the Philippines who opposed the regime of Ferdinand Marcos, the dictator that ruled the Philippines for twenty years.[31][32][33] There were also opinions that such a turn of events is unlikely.[34]

In January 2021, the pro-Kremlin channel Tsargrad TV threatened to publish intimate files of Alexei Navalny unless Navalnaya promised "not to become Tsikhanouskaya in Russia" and "not to play political games".[35][36]

After hearing reports of her husband's death in February 2024, Navalnaya, who had been attending the Munich Security Conference, subsequently gave a speech in which she said that if her husband had died, Putin and his allies would "be brought to justice".[37] Soon afterwards she published a video online stating that she plans to continue her husband's political work, and asked Russians to rally around her as they did around her husband, saying: "I want to live in a free Russia, I want to build a free Russia."[38] On 28 February 2024, Navalnaya addressed the European Parliament after being invited by EP president Roberta Metsola. During her speech she accused Vladimir Putin of having orchestrated her husband's murder and said that European leaders need to "stop being boring" and innovate if they want to defeat Putin.[39]

Navalnaya leads the Anti-Corruption Foundation,[40] which was founded by her husband in 2011.[41][42] On 1 July 2024, Navalnaya was announced as the chairperson of Human Rights Foundation, succeeding Garry Kasparov.[43][44]

On 21 October 2024, on the eve of launching Navalny's memoir Patriot, Navalnaya gave an interview to the BBC, in which she stated that she would stand for president of Russia once Putin was no longer in power. She said that she would like to see Putin behind bars, punished for his crimes. She said that the Anti-Corruption Foundation (now led by her) has evidence which will be released once all of the details have been collected.[40][45]

Recognition and influence

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President Joe Biden hugs Yulia Navalnaya in San Francisco, California on 22 February 2024

In 2015, Navalnaya was ranked 67th in the top 100 most influential women in Russia by Echo of Moscow.[46] After Alexei Navalny received a suspended sentence, the opinion was expressed that Navalnaya could nominate herself for the presidency instead of him. According to Russian public figure Ksenia Sobchak, in 2018 she offered this option to Navalny, but he rejected it saying "votes are not handed over".[47]

In 2020, Novaya Gazeta and its audience named Navalnaya its Hero of the Year.[15] In the same year, Russian writer Dmitry Bykov said that Navalnaya reminded him of the heroine of Lyudmila Petrushevskaya: she "faces circumstances stronger than her, but some miracle helps her to defeat the world's evil."[48]

Key European media outlets have closely followed her activity and quoted her posts on social networks.[4]

In April 2024, Time Magazine listed her as one of the 100 most influential persons of 2024.[49]

On 3 June 2024, she received the Human Rights Prize from Oslo Freedom Forum on behalf of her late husband. In her speech, she said that "I would wish that this prize was not necessary. But dictators around the world continue killing freedom fighters".[50]

Personal life

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In the summer of 1998, while on vacation in Turkey, Navalnaya met Alexei Navalny, a lawyer, also a resident of Moscow. In 2000, she and Navalny were married, and the couple had a daughter and a son. She helped her husband's parents in their business related to basket weaving.[3] After 2007, Navalnaya did not officially work anywhere, calling herself "the main one in matters of everyday life and raising children".[4]

Navalnaya was prevented from seeing her husband for two years leading up to his death.[40] On 16 February 2024, the Russian prison service announced that Navalny had died in prison.[22][23]

References

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  1. ^ "«Не каждому выпало так любить и быть так любимым». Мать Юлии Навальной выступила с речью на похоронах политика". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2 March 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  2. ^ Navalny, Alexei (24 November 2020). "Девочки-убийцы, или предъявите своё свидетельство о смерти" [Killer girls, or show your death certificate]. navalny.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Sokolov, Dmitry (5 December 2020). "От курортного романа к спасительной любви: что связало Юлию и Алексея Навальных" [From a resort romance to saving love: what connected Yulia and Alexei Navalny]. sobesednik.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Cheprasova, Elizaveta (18 January 2021). "Первая леди оппозиции: что мы знаем о Юлии Навальной" [First Lady of the opposition: what do we know about Yulia Navalnaya]. woman.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. ^ Гусев, Владимир (9 February 2017). "Юлия Навальная: первая леди России-2018, которую мы потеряли из-за махинаций ее мужа". Блокнот Россия. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. ^ Navalnaya, Yulia (12 September 2018). "«Вор и трус, наглый бандит». Юлия Навальная ответила главе Росгвардии" ["Thief and coward, impudent bandit." Yulia Navalnaya answered the head of the National Guard of Russia]. Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Юлия Навальная считает обращение главы Росгвардии угрозой всей семье" [Yulia Navalnaya considers the appeal of the head of the National Guard of Russia a threat to the whole family]. Kommersant (in Russian). 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Юлия Навальная потребовала у Путина разрешение вывезти мужа в Германию" [Yulia Navalnaya demanded permission from Putin to take her husband to Germany]. Meduza (in Russian). 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. ^ "Юлия Навальная официально требует от президента Путина разрешить транспортировку ее мужа в Германию" [Yulia Navalnaya officially demands that President Putin allow her husband to be transported to Germany]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). 21 August 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Алексей и Юлия Навальные дали огромное интервью Юрию Дудю. Мы выбрали главное из разговора, который длится 2,5 часа" [Alexey and Yulia Navalny gave a huge interview to Yuri Dud. We chose the main thing from a conversation that lasts 2.5 hours]. Meduza (in Russian). 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. ^ Navalnaya, Yulia (6 September 2020). "«Мой муж — не ваша собственность». Юлия Навальная ответила на инициативу доктора Рошаля по лечению ее супруга" ["My husband is not your property." Yulia Navalnaya responded to Dr. Roshal's initiative to treat her husband]. Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  12. ^ Roshal, Leonid (7 September 2020). "«Все понимают Ваше состояние». Леонид Рошаль ответил на критику со стороны Юлии Навальной" ["Everyone understands your condition." Leonid Roshal responded to criticism from Yulia Navalnaya]. Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Юлия Навальная отвергла инициативу доктора Рошаля создать совместную российско-немецкую экспертную группу" [Yulia Navalnaya rejected Dr. Roshal's initiative to create a joint Russian-German expert group]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). 6 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  14. ^ Kellogg, Amy (16 October 2020). "Being Navalny: Russian activist, wife explain his brush with death after poisoning, escaping for treatment". Fox News. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  15. ^ a b Chelishcheva, Vera (26 December 2020). ""Юля, ты меня спасла"" [Yulia, you saved me]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  16. ^ "Жена Навального прокомментировала его задержание" [Navalny's wife commented on his detention]. Kommersant (in Russian). 17 January 2021. Archived from the original on 17 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. ^ ""Наступил 37-й год, а мы и не заметили". Юлия Навальная сообщила о слежке" ["The Year of '37 has come, and we did not notice." Yulia Navalnaya reported on surveillance]. Current Time TV (in Russian). 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  18. ^ Navalnaya, Yulia (20 January 2021). "Юлия Навальная: Наступил 37-й год, а мы и не заметили" [Yulia Navalnaya: The Year of '37 has come and we did not notice]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  19. ^ "«Наступил 37-й год». Юлия Навальная уверена, что её «караулят» полицейские (фото)" ["The Year of '37 has come." Yulia Navalnaya is sure that the police are "watching" her (photo)]. fontanka.ru (in Russian). 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Юлия Навальная назвала несколько личных причин пойти 23 января на акцию протеста" [For myself, for him, for our children, for values and ideals]. znak.com. 22 January 2020. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  21. ^ "Russia: Police detain thousands at pro-Navalny protests". Deutsche Welle. 23 January 2021. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Russian opposition leader Navalny has died, prison service says". BBC. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  23. ^ a b Slawson, Nicola. "Russia-Ukraine war live: Alexei Navalny dies in prison after morning walk, says Russian prison service". Guardian. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  24. ^ "«Я продолжу дело Алексея Навального» Обращение Юлии Навальной. Полный текст". Meduza (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 February 2024. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
  25. ^ MacFarquhar, Neil (9 July 2024). "Russian Court Orders Arrest of Yulia Navalnaya, Navalny's Widow". The New York Times. New York. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  26. ^ Sonne, Paul (11 July 2024). "Russia Places Navalny's Widow on Extremist List". The New York Times. New York. Archived from the original on 12 July 2024. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
  27. ^ ""Российская Тихановская": Потапенко рассказал, кто может стать лидером оппозиции вместо Навального". sobesednik.ru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  28. ^ ""Навальный может погибнуть в тюрьме». Прокремлевский политолог Сергей Марков о сценариях будущего для «берлинского пациента"". www.fontanka.ru (in Russian). 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  29. ^ "«Навальный — это бренд, и он будет работать»: сможет ли Юлия Навальная повторить путь Светланы Тихановской". www.e1.ru (in Russian). 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  30. ^ Bennetts, Marc (21 January 2021). "Yulia Navalnaya: I've been under surveillance since Alexei's arrest". The Times. Moscow. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.(Subscription required.)
  31. ^ ""Картинка насилия для Кремля лучше". Аббас Галлямов объясняет страхи российской власти" ["The picture of violence is better for the Kremlin." Abbas Gallyamov explains the fears of the Russian authorities]. Current Time TV (in Russian). 17 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  32. ^ Gallyamov, Abbas (18 January 2021). "Аббас Галлямов: О политических перспективах Юлии Навальной" [Abbas Gallyamov: On the political prospects of Yulia Navalnaya]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  33. ^ Galyamov, Abbas (19 January 2021). "Аббас Галлямов: "Антисистемные настроения создают спрос на "антиполитических" кандидатов"" [Abbas Gallyamov: "Anti-systemic sentiments create demand for "anti-political" candidates"]. NEWSru (in Russian). Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  34. ^ Shevchenko, Maxim (13 January 2021). "Максим Шевченко: «Эффекта Хомейни» не получится" [Maxim Shevchenko: "The Khomeini Effect" will not work]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  35. ^ Lobkov, Pavel (16 January 2021). "Телеканал «Царьград» выдвинул ультиматум Юлии Навальной" [TV channel "Tsargrad" issued an ultimatum to Yulia Navalnaya]. TV Rain. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  36. ^ "Yulia Navalnaya, Kremlin critic's wife, in the spotlight". France 24. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  37. ^ Bayer, Lili (16 February 2024). "Yulia Navalnaya takes stage at Munich meeting after news of husband's death". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  38. ^ Sauer, Pjotr; O'Carroll, Lisa (19 February 2024). "Yulia Navalnaya vows to continue husband Alexei's fight and says Putin killed him". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  39. ^ "Yulia Navalnaya: "If you want to defeat Putin, fight his criminal gang" | News | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 28 February 2024. Archived from the original on 28 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  40. ^ a b c Navalnaya, Yulia (20 October 2024). "Alexei Navalny's widow Yulia says she'll stand as Russian President". BBC News (Interview). Interviewed by Razzall, Katie. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  41. ^ "Russia outlaws Alexei Navalny's organisations as 'extremist'". Financial Times. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  42. ^ "Home". Anti-Corruption Foundation (in Russian). 24 May 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  43. ^ "Юлия Навальная стала председателем правозащитной организации Human Rights Foundation вместо Гарри Каспарова" [Yulia Navalnaya becomes chairperson of civil rights foundation Human Rights Foundation in place of Garry Kasparov]. Meduza (in Russian). 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  44. ^ "Navalnaya Elected Head Of Human Rights Foundation, Succeeding Kasparov". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 1 July 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  45. ^ "Yulia Navalnaya, widow of former Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, says she will return to Russia to run for president". ABC News. 22 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  46. ^ "Эхо-рейтинг: 100 самых влиятельных женщин России — рейтинг" [Echo rating: 100 most influential women in Russia – rating]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). 8 March 2015. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  47. ^ "Собчак: Навальный отказался выдвинуть жену Юлию в президенты". ВЗГЛЯД.РУ (in Russian). Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  48. ^ Bykov, Dmitry (18 December 2020). "Кусок эфира: Дмитрий Быков: Я бы дорого дал, чтобы из Навального не получился авторитарный руководитель" [A piece of air: Dmitry Bykov: I would give dearly so that Navalny does not turn out to be an authoritarian leader]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  49. ^ "The 100 most influential people of 2024 - Yulia Navalnaya", Time Magazine, 17 April 2024
  50. ^ "Navalnaja mottar pris i Oslo mandag kveld: –⁠ Putin beordret drapet på min mann" "Navalnaya receives prize in Oslo Monday evening: - Putin ordered the killing of my husband", VG, 3 April 2024
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