FLASH
Shkruar nga Daniel Serwer
A classic political prisoner, Navalny challenged Putin's legitimacy and could have contested a fair election to oust him from power. That was enough to earn him a decades-long sentence and eventually death.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said it well: Navalny will be remembered as the best president Russia never had.
I enjoyed, so to speak, a performance of Mussorsky's Boris Godunov at the Bolshoi opera about 10 years ago. In it, Godunov is elected Tsar after killing the rightful heir. This may or may not be historically accurate. But it is hard not to see parallels with Putin in this Russian opera. This also tells you something about Navalny's death.
As with Godunov, it really doesn't matter if Putin ordered Navalny's murder. It is possible that Navalny was subjected to harsh conditions in a Siberian prison. He wasn't supposed to be there. A classic political prisoner, Navalny challenged Putin's legitimacy and could have contested a fair election to oust him from power. That was enough to earn him a decades-long sentence and eventually death.
How should the West react?
The United States and Europe can do little to directly respond to Navalny's death. Perhaps some sanctions against prison and security officials? A week or two badmouthing Putin?
Putin will not care about any of this. What interests him is Ukraine. And what he understands is power. He has enjoyed for months watching Washington falter over military aid to Kiev. The time has come to fix it. One way or another, the House has to vote the bailout up or down. Now there is no doubt that it will pass if the Speaker allows it to be voted on.
But this should not be the end of the story. The US should remove quality restrictions on what it sends to Ukraine. Washington should supply any weapons Kiev needs to win the war this year. Nothing less than this will bring a swift end to a war that has already gone on too long. Russian defeat is the sine qua non for peace.
What should the Russians do?
His guilt and a claim to overturn the Godunov opera is not a likely outcome for Putin. The presidential election is just one month later (March 15-17). Putin has already eliminated every serious rival, but there is always the destruction of ballots or I suppose writings that could at least embarrass him.
Another possibility is a coup in the Kremlin. The AP has identified several possible replacements if Putin were to disappear. But this is also unlikely. If nothing else, Putin has ensured that he does not face any serious rivals or the risk of rebellion, including those close to him.
Putin is 71 years old. This is already above the life expectancy at birth of an average Russian male. He certainly lived a privileged existence as a KGB officer and politician. But this may not prolong his years. Holding power seems to keep people alive more often than it kills them. More than likely…
So, it is very likely that we will have to put up with Putin for a while longer. But we must no longer tolerate the US supporting his geopolitical objectives, his invasion of Ukraine, or his claim that life is better in Russia than in the West. Donald Trump, Tucker Carlson and others in this category should be shown the door./ Adapted "Pamphlet" from "Peacefare"
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