Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, has made a public appeal to the international community and political leaders of the West, urging them not to recognize Vladimir Putin as the legitimate president of Russia following Kremlin-controlled presidential elections. In her op-ed and public statements, Navalnaya describes Putin as akin to a leader of a mafia group, highlighting his brutality, cynicism, penchant for violence, fondness for luxury, and his indifference for the Russian people. She emphasizes that Putin is not a politician but a gangster, labeling him as a usurper, tyrant, war criminal, and murderer. This comes as Putin is preparing for a fifth term amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, with the election process tightly controlled to ensure him a landslide win. Navalnaya's call comes as the US acknowledges the 'very real threats' to Russian opposition, following an attack on a Navalny ally in Lithuania.
Alexei Navalny’s widow has urged western countries not to recognise Vladimir Putin as Russia’s legitimate leader after Kremlin-controlled presidential elections ⬇️ https://t.co/J8XRfba28C
#BREAKING US says Navalny ally attack in Lithuania shows 'very real threats' to Russian opposition https://t.co/TiIpQEyUsn
Putin has sailed into a fifth term with a Kremlin-backed election, exposing the limits of economic weapons not backed by hard power. Read Year of Elections, our new free newsletter ⬇️ https://t.co/ctk4jvxKfo
Yulia Navalnaya calls on world leaders not to recognize this weekend's Russian elections. "The world must finally realize that Putin is not who he wants to appear to be. He is a usurper, a tyrant, a war criminal — and a murderer." https://t.co/AWHvWPQYXQ
Judging by Putin's blatant corruption, his brutal repression, and his indifference for the Russian people (e.g., sending men to die as cannon fodder in Ukraine), it's hard to disagree when Yulia Navalnaya says "Putin isn’t a politician, he’s a gangster." https://t.co/Y9xY0rRlTt
Putin is set to win 6 more years in power. Here’s how it will affect the war and Russia’s relations https://t.co/kb2hPqq6af https://t.co/ts5j7aTqpN
Putin is preparing to gain a fifth term in an election that’s tightly controlled by the Kremlin. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine now in its third year, officials are working to ensure him a landslide win. Set a reminder for #ThePoliticsSpace ⏰ https://t.co/7Rt8eluuys
Yulia Navalnaya: Putin isn’t a politician, he’s a gangster. Via Wash Post. https://t.co/a1woiDtPWO
"Look at Putin as the leader of a mafia group. You will grasp his brutality, cynicism, penchant for violence, fondness for ostentatious luxury — and willingness to lie and kill," @yulia_navalnaya writes, urging the west not to recognize Russia's elections https://t.co/G8CFueXP82
The Russian opposition's next tactic -- to call on international community to deem Putin illegitimate. "I call on political leaders of the West.. to not recognize Putin as the legitimate president of Russia." @yulia_navalnaya writes in new op-ed https://t.co/UwQr6ufUJv