Julia Navalny can combine the opposition?

Respond to Maxim Katz, Dmitry Gudkov and other opinions

Julia Navalny said that she would continue the work of her husband, and called for "standing next to her." Can it be called the new leader of the Russian opposition and are other oppositions ready to support it? "Cold" asked these questions to famous Russian politicians and public figures.

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Question: Julia Navalny can unite the opposition?

Mikhail Lobanov, politician, former assistant professor of the MECHMATE MSU

“I consider the statement of Julia Navalny important and timely. In her words, she was able to support millions of caring people. To help again, and at a deeper emotional level, to understand and realize that Russian society has not lost. That we will have a chance. But he has to fight for him. And this is the most important thing now.

What will be the path specifically to Julia in public policy will tell time. She can make a significant contribution to the common cause. I am convinced that it would be important and useful to continue the dynamics that we have seen in recent years by Alexei Navalny himself - a gradually intensifying emphasis on the topic of social and economic inequality, which creates structural prerequisites for military adventures and the emergence of a machine of repressions and coercion.

If you manage to combine a strong emotion of rage in connection with the murder of Alexei, unwillingness to put up with the aggressive war and a colossal (accumulated over 30 years) potential for dissatisfaction with an unfair and unequal distribution of income, benefits and life chances, then this will help bring the Russian opposition to a qualitatively different level. ”

Maxim Katz, politician, blogger

“Maybe” ( short answer “ cold ” ).

“In Russian politics, there is still a leader of the opposition. [This means] that the movement that was around Navalny, and the fact that he personified himself will not go anywhere. This is very important and very cool. The Russian opposition has a new leader ”( on his YouTube channel ).

Andrey Loshak, journalist

“I believe that Julia is the best candidate. We do not know her very well, but she makes the impression of a whole, strong and principled woman. We saw her in the case when we poisoned Navalny. In an interview that Dud did after poisoning, she made an almost greater impression on me than Alexey. I realized that she is not just a reliable rear - she is the same fighter and a fighter as him. Julia has several qualities that favorably distinguish it against the background of other opposition in emigration.

1. She has a motivation that is understandable to any fool. Restore the honest name of her husband and take revenge on the killers who deprived her and her children of a loved one. As women know how to take revenge, we saw in the movie "Kill Bill". And this personal story that is understandable to everyone, it seems to me, is fully justified by the fact that Julia becomes the face of the opposition.

2. She is a woman. I am sure that Russia needs a woman president. All our sufferings - from the power of this fucking patriarchy, who, as a domestic abuse, does not let go of Russia, keeps on a leash and in a muzzle, inspiring the idea that we will disappear where we are, we will disappear. “No Putin - no Russia.” Here we need a woman to destroy these evil spells of Patriarchate. After the bloody darkness of the patriarchal archaic, the power of a strong woman is like a medicine that can heal wounds.

3. She has an unfinished reputation (well, just because she did not deal with politics before). She has a credit of trust. And there is an unconditional support of Western politicians, which gives it a certain resource.

4. She looks cool.

I see her in this post.

But all these inspirational points rest on counter -sthesis: how to change power in an authoritarian country with one of the largest power apparatuses in the world with an absolutely politically indifferent majority of the population? It doesn’t even matter if the opposition is inside the country or outside. No matter how beautiful Julia and whatever hopes we have on her, without our active participation, she is nothing more than a symbol. But participation in politics in a fascist country is associated with great risks - it is logical that units are ready to take risks. And the situation becomes only worse from year to year. How to solve this equation, I don’t understand for many years. ”

Grigory Sverdlin, human rights activist, founder of the project " Go Forest "

“Of course, Julia Navalny can become the leader of the Russian opposition. She has fame and moral authority. I would like to wish her the strength these days. And I am glad that she made such a statement. I really hope that she really has the strength to survive this terrible loss and continue the work of Alexei Navalny. ”

Dmitry Gudkov, politician, former State Duma deputy

“In any case, she can count on me! And let political scientists give assessments. ”

Lev Schlosberg, politician, member of the Federal Political Committee of the Yabloko party

“Julia Navalny is a strong and smart woman. She and the whole family of Alexei Navalny are now experiencing the tragedy of his whole life. This is a tremendous test. I am condolences to her and all the relatives of Alexei. But political leadership is not inherited. Julia cannot come to Russia and conduct political work here, cannot create any political structures in our country: it will be arrested at the entrance and deprive of freedom, and then the children will remain not only without a father, but also without a mother.

In exile, in principle, it is impossible to create a political structure that will change the situation in Russia and lead to a change in power and politicians. Such a structure can sooner or later appear only within the country. In exile, you can influence, enlighten, make media, distribute information. But it is impossible to conduct opposition political work, because this work can only be carried out literally on Earth, inside society, and not outside it. The opposition is a product of internal preparation, not external. Opposition and emigration are different political professions. Alexey Navalny understood this well.

Often they recall in conversations about Julia Navalny Svetlana Tikhanovskaya. But the nature of its legitimacy is that before leaving the country she won the presidential election, became the legally elected president of Belarus, from whom they stole the victory and did not allow to enter into authority. She is not just an emigrant - she is a legitimate head of state in exile. This is a completely different political status, including for the leaders of foreign states. Julia Navalny does not have such electoral legitimacy.

It is significant that the statement of Julia Navalny stirred primarily emigration. Because people who are in emigration, forced to part with their homeland, are looking for support, the center of power for themselves, the eldest in rank, are looking for at least some perspective and hope. I understand these people and sympathize with them, but the energy of changes will ripen within Russia - yes, for a very long time - and will lead these changes in politics that will live these gloomy years within society, together with people. Those who remain alive, of course. The doors of this prison will open from the inside, not outside. ”

Mikhail Svetov, politician, founder of the media "SVTV"

“Julia Navalny has a large loan of public trust and sympathy. She is the only one who potentially breathe a new life into the FBK and for whom society recognizes the right to speak on behalf of Navalny. But this confidence is shameful, as it is connected with the novelty and that no one reliably knows her views and is looking for its reflection in it. Several political mistakes will quickly eat this capital.

To take place as a policy, Julia will have to prove that she is led by a thirst for revenge, but a love of Russia. Otherwise, the Kremlin will be easy to marginalize and turn it into a caricature.

The second serious threat is to become a “female” politician or get stuck in the framework of the existing nuclear audience of Navalny. Four years later, the memory of Navalny will be weaker than today. And the new generation will not be clear how Navalny differed from the galaxy of other liberal politicians. If during this time Julia does not show itself as an independent and smart policy, it is disappointed in it in the same way as they were disappointed in the FBK without Navalny. She also has to revise the composition and format of the work of Navalny's structures. The conclusion defended Alexei from the need to be responsible for the words of his employees. On Julia, statements of public entities of the FBK will be affected directly.

Julia has a chance to become a politician. He is small and requires her serious strength and wisdom. I hope she can show them. "

Ivan Pavlov, lawyer, founder of projects “ Team 29 ” and “ First Department ”

“I think she can. Alexei Navalny was different from all other killed, repressed, planted, forced to leave politicians in that he created a team of bright personalities who complement each other. And Julia is part of this team, because he is herself a bright person. He, of course, was lucky with his wife. And the team has accepted her now. This is a serious challenge. But also a very serious political potential. ”

Alexander Etkind, historian, culturologist

“Yes, she is a new leader. And I am waiting for her to tell you why Alexey was killed. I think that I will believe her. ”

Dmitry Oreshkin, political scientist ( * in * ether from journalist Alexander Poychev ) **

“What does it mean:“ Julia is the leader of the opposition ”? She should take the place of Alexei in the sense that she generates new meanings, that she convinces her supporters to unite and act as she recommends. She looks like a banner of resistance. To do this, you need to have the talents of Alexei Navalny. <...> He did not have to prove this [his leadership]. And Julia will have to prove. She will need to subordinate many people from the FBK to her will, who also believe that they could become the successors of Navalny's case. They have political ambitions. In this sense, it will be wildly difficult for her. Maybe she has such a talent - it would be very cool. ”

Marat Gelman, Galerist, Political Technologist ( on his Facebook page )

“Julia Navalny, we are with you. And in grief and in business. "

* Tatyana Stanaya, political scientist ( quote from post in telegram channel *)

“A lot depends on what she will offer on herself. Not as a widow of an outstanding politician, tortured to death, but as an independent figure. Will she be able to find her political style, its content, a team that will not cause disgust. Time will show".

* Konstantin Sonin, economist, professor of Chicago University ( on his Twitter *)

“Julia Navalny has every chance of changing Russian history, continuing the work of his husband. What she has immediately thanks to Alexei - the widest audience of Russian people, in Russia and abroad, is more than any other Russian politician, including Putin. She does not have hundreds of thousands of FSBSHNI, Rosgvardamyes and police officers guarding Putin’s power, but she starts not from scratch.

There are historical examples. In 1983, Benigno Akino, the leader of the Philippine opposition, returned to Manila and was killed by order of the then dictator Marcos - just as Navalny was killed by order of Putin. His widow Coenson challenged to Markos in the 1986 elections -, as nominal as Putin’s. Of course, according to the results of the elections, Marcos painted victory with 75% of the vote, but the citizens went out into the street, and the security forces, after a little thought, parted with the annoying dictator. <...> Of course, it is necessary to hope that Navalny will turn out like Akino - that she will be able to save Russia from a crazy maniac and his criminal lads in power. ”

Sergey Parkhomenko, journalist ( on the air of journalist Alexander Poychev )

“We compare it all the time with Tikhanovskaya. There is such a special syndrome - to envy the situations with the Belarusian opposition and emigration. <...> Let's look at this with an objective look. And what happened to Tikhanovskaya? How much has she achieved? <...> In my opinion, a little. <...> Her activity came down to the protocol. <...> Therefore, when they say that Julia Navalny must become Russian Tikhanovskaya, it is necessary to make an amendment: not in the sense of the result that will be obtained. It is necessary to set yourself other tasks. ”

Evgeny Chichvarkin, entrepreneur ( on the air of journalist Alexander Poychev )

“I am an old man, tired, pessimistic. <...> It all depends on the meanings. From how she formulates, whom she listens and how many people [listen], offering meanings. <...> So far, she speaks little and everything is in an apple. I want to wish her good luck, success and will support her. ”

* Tatyana Felgenhauer, journalist ( on his Twitter *)

“Julia, the strength to you. I will do everything to help and support! "

* Julia Latynina, journalist ( on his Twitter *)

“Julia Navalny raised the banner, which fell out of the hands of the murdered Alexei. It depends on us whether it will become the president of the beautiful Russia of the future. ”