MOSCOW (CU)_From behind bars in a Coronavirus isolation cell, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny released a bombshell video accusing President Vladimir Putin of colossal corruption.
The video was released less than 48 hours after Navalny was detained by Russian authorities in Moscow, underscoring that the main opposition leader and his supporters remain united five months after he suffered a near-fatal nerve agent poisoning, which Navalny claims was ordered by the Russian government.
Social media and viral videos remain the core of Navalny’s opposition power, criticising long-time President Vladimir Putin and pointing out alleged abuses by Russian political leaders under the President.
This time, the video included drone footage of a gigantic palace near Gelendzhik on the Black Sea, which includes an indoor ice rink, a casino and a cellar winery, which the video alleged was built for Putin at a cost of £1bn ($1.37bn), paid for “with the largest bribe in history”.
The video titled “Putin’s palace. History of world’s largest bribe”, viewed more than 25 million times, includes a photo of teenager Elizaveta Krivonogikh, who it claimed was the secret daughter Putin fathered with a lover. It also named former gymnast Alina Kabaeva as another woman who allegedly received benefits such as apartments for herself and her family through Putin.
However, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov denies that the palace was related to the President, saying that the video was “pure nonsense”. The spokesman also rejected a report issued by a Russian outlet, Proekt Media, in November, claiming that Krivonogikhis is related to Putin.
In August last year, Navalny fell ill on a flight back to Moscow from Siberia. He was still in a coma when he was admitted to Berlin’s Charite Hospital, and tests performed there showed the presence of the Soviet-era nerve agent Novichok.
Navalny says the Russian Government was behind his poisoning, claims which have been confirmed by journalists who have carried out independent investigations into the matter.
On Sunday (Jan 17), the Russian opposition leader returned to his home country after recovering in Germany, and he was detained by Russian authorities soon after he touched down in Moscow.
Meanwhile, Navalny’s supporters plan to take the streets in mass protests on Saturday, after a court ordered that he be held in custody for 30 days.
According to political analyst Tatiana Stanovaya of the R. Politik analytical firm, Navalny is seen by Kremlin as an enemy of the state, and bringing him down in now seen as a “matter of honour” by the domestic intelligence service FSB.
“They want to see Navalny destroyed in prison, physically and mentally weak and vulnerable,” she said. “They don’t care about protests or elections. They would like to see the West increase sanctions because it gives them more arguments to insist on this harsh line in Russian policy.”
Leonid Volkov, head of Navalny’s network of offices who is organising the protests planned for Saturday believes Navalny’s life remains in danger.
“The situation is very dangerous indeed because, technically and practically, Alexei Navalny is now in the custody of the very people who tried to poison him,” he said.
Navalny’s poisoning sent a strong message that Putin’s serious opposition rivals will be not be tolerated. Following the incident, authorities have passed a series of laws which would make it harder for Navalny and other rivals to protest, to oppose the regime or to expose corruption in Russian politics.
