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The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

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Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

#2
He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time.

I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it.

The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight.

I think the KGB is just "trolling" him.

Would they were they serious, they could've thrown the usual "espionage," or "terrorism" charge, and landed him in prison for 20+ years, poison him to death properly, or simply shot him dead as they've done with hundreds of others.

Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

#3
post #2

He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…

Don't forget the "fell out a window" accident that has happened to several Russian doctors recently.

Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

#4
post #2

He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…

He was poisoned once in jail before, and someone threw brilliant green at him, damaging his eye.

So, technically, he was poisoned twice, not trice.

As if this mattered. Sigh.

Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

#5
post #2

He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…

Not all are dealt with "unceremoniously." See Alexander Litvinenko[0], who was not only poisoned but in such a way that there was no plausible deniability for FSB. More than anything they appeared to be making a spectacle of their impunity.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexander_Litvine...

Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

#6
post #3
post #2

He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…

Don't forget the "fell out a window" accident that has happened to several Russian doctors recently.

Yes, people "fall out of windows" for much lesser offenses to the regime in Russia.

Given this, take any speculation of suddenly appearing "credible opposition" in Russia with a big, big grain of salt.

Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

#7
post #2

He was poisoned, and survived thrice, and was also jailed for really insubstantial periods of time. I think the Kremlin is very much content with having such a plaything opposition, which tacitly plays along, and does nothing to really challenge it. The few other people who ever were a credible threat to the regime in Russia were dealt with much more unceremoniously: gunned down in the broad daylight. I think the KGB…

It’s like he’s the modern day Rasputin.

I think you’re right, if they really wanted to get him, they would. There aren’t bay of pigs amateurs.

Re: The Suspected Poisoning of Alexey Navalny, Putin’s Most Prominent Adversary

#10
I remember an essay a few years ago (it was the Ukrainian poisoning?) where the author essentially said that Russia's brand has basically been spoiled for outsiders. (political brand certainly, but maybe overall as a country).

As in, Russia is no longer a trustworthy seeming, interesting, attractive place to want to go visit or collaborate with or be associated with.

I mean, of course it depends on the level of detail you're dealing with and who exactly you're associating with. But for me, a general observer, Russia certainly seems to have gotten a history of doing and being the source of shady things.

Even aside from that, and this is probably skewed by the history books focusing on the oddest parts of history -- Russia always reads like an odd, outlier place in history. Or maybe it's the Russian literature. Always something strange, or depressing going on there.

What's up with that?

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