Feb. 27, Rhonda Garelick, distinguished professor of English and journalism at SMU Dallas, for a commentary about how Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Aleksei A. Navalny, is going to carry on the Russian opposition that was her husband’s life’s work. Published in Garelick’s New York Times ‘Face Forward’ column under the heading Yulia Navalnaya, Seen in a New Light: https://tinyurl.com/y8tscyvr
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Aleksei A. Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died this month in an Arctic prison, has vowed to continue her husband’s work.
Ms. Navalnaya, 47, has been less public than Mr. Navalny, seen at his side and in his documentary, but mostly steering clear of the spotlight. She was, though, an important half of a global power couple: A telegenic duo who expressed unfaltering passion for each other and for their vision of a free and democratic future for Russia. “Everyone wanted a love like theirs,” wrote Julia Ioffe in a 2021 Vanity Fair profile.
Mr. Navalny galvanized millions with his combination of intellect, good looks and a breezy, ironic wit that, even in the grimmest of circumstances, offered a primer in resisting fear and intimidation. Although terrible things happened to him, Mr. Navalny somehow managed to survive, which lent him an aura of indestructibility.