DISINFO: The West is using Navalny to access Russia's resources
SUMMARY
It is no secret that the United States and other Western countries are using Alexei Navalny to destabilise the situation in Russia in order to weaken the current government and gain access in the future to our country's resources. Nothing changes, the principle remains the same: divide and rule.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative about Alexei Navalny. The claim that Navalny is somehow used by the West for the political destabilisation of Russia is disinformation.
Anti-corruption campaigner Alexei Navalny has long been the most prominent face of Russian opposition to President Vladimir Putin. His candidacy in the 2018 presidential election was banned by authorities over his conviction by a Russian court for embezzlement, which bars him from running for office. He has been arrested and imprisoned several times during his political career.
Alexei Navalny, in addition to founding the Russia of the Future party in 2018, is also the founder and leader of the "Anti-Corruption Foundation" (FBK), which has investigated embezzlement from the state budget, uncovered the lives of Russian politicians and businessmen close to the government and different corruption practices. FBK's goal is to eliminate corruption. Their funding comes from donations and therefore the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation recognised FBK as a "foreign agent" due to the Russian "foreign agent" law, since they receive donations from outside Russia. However, FBK does not agree with this claim and is appealing it in court.
Alexei Navalny was arrested following his return to Russia from Germany, where he was treated for poisoning with a Novichok-type chemical nerve agent. The European Union has condemned his arrest and demanded his immediate release and imposed sanctions.
See further disinformation claims that Alexei Navalny is a depleted political project; that the neo-liberal forces behind Navalny will intensify their attempts to destroy Russia; that Navalny is used as an instrument by Western special services and that the West needs Alexei Navalny to destabilise the situation in Russia.