TALLINN, Estonia — 

The team led by Alexey Navalny is accustomed to functioning autonomously. The Russian President Vladimir Putin’s greatest adversary has often been missing for extended periods due to arrests, attacks, poisoning, or imprisonment.

After the sudden death of Navalny in February, at the age of 47, while in a remote Arctic prison, his team was faced with a daunting task: to maintain an opposition movement against Putin, who is highly likely to be reelected, without the presence and guidance of their influential and charismatic leader.

Once the initial surprise had faded, Navalny’s nearest supporters resumed their efforts to challenge Putin’s tight hold on authority, the very same work that ultimately led to Navalny’s imprisonment and death.

On Sunday, the final day for voting in the election, a significant test will occur. The election is perceived as more of a routine process rather than a demonstration of democracy.

On Sunday, Navalny’s team, supported by his widow Yulia Navalnaya, is planning a protest called “Noon Against Putin.” They are urging Russians from all 11 time zones of the country to gather at polling stations at noon local time in order to show their dissatisfaction with Putin’s leadership and his actions towards Ukraine.

According to Navalnaya in a video statement, this action is both easy and secure and cannot be prohibited. It has the potential to unite millions of individuals who share our beliefs and remind us that we have support in our fight against war, corruption, and injustice.

Navalny’s supporters have displayed a range of emotions in the weeks following his passing, from rekindled motivation to a feeling of disappointment.

Maria Obukhova of Moscow, who paid tribute to Navalny on Wednesday at the Borisovskoye Cemetery, said the crowds she saw at his funeral — which numbered in the thousands — were motivational.

Obukhova expressed her astonishment at the current state of Russia, stating that everything had seemed to perish and that the country no longer existed. She placed white daisies at Navalny’s gravesite as a tribute.

A man named Valery, who preferred not to disclose his last name for safety concerns, shared his thoughts at the cemetery. He expressed little optimism for the future and believes that Navalny’s death has deeply impacted him.

A few days following her husband’s passing, Navalnaya showed her resolve to continue his cause.

Over the last month, she has spoken to the European Parliament, had a meeting with President Joe Biden of the United States, and advised Western nations against acknowledging the outcome of Russia’s election. Additionally, she has urged the Western world to impose stricter sanctions on individuals with ties to Putin.

Prior to the election, Navalny’s team encouraged his followers to vote for any candidate besides Putin. They also suggested the tactic of selecting multiple candidates or invalidating the ballot altogether. Additionally, they assembled a group of volunteers to reach out to regular citizens and discuss their grievances in an attempt to sway them away from supporting Putin.

Navalny’s top strategist, Leonid Volkov, reported in a video that they have made “tens of thousands” of calls through the phone campaign that was announced over the summer. He declared that they will continue this effort without pause.

Volkov later delivered a recorded statement following Navalny’s passing in an effort to unify followers and possibly invoke his enduring companion’s unwavering determination. He asserted, “If we are fortunate enough to witness the downfall of Putin’s regime, it will serve as a testament to Alexey’s mission.”

However, the challenges faced by the Putin opposition have become even more difficult with the exile of its leaders.

Nikolay Petrov, a visiting researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, stated that Putin’s regime expels individuals from the country because it recognizes the limited impact of influencing political events in Russia from foreign locations.

According to Sam Greene, director at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, the upcoming “Noon Against Putin” protest on Sunday will serve as a gauge of the capabilities of Navalny’s team in making an impact in Russia while operating from overseas.

“In order to support those who remain in Russia, the opposition in exile intends to send a message of solidarity and support. However, the logistics of this support still need to be determined,” stated Greene.

An attempt is being made to interfere with the demonstration. According to Navalny’s associates, false emails have been circulated, posing as them, and urging Putin’s opponents to arrive at the polls at 5 p.m. rather than noon.

According to Golos, a non-partisan organization monitoring elections in Russia, there have been reports of officials in certain areas being directed to notify law enforcement of any significant gatherings around voting locations.

The Prosecutor’s Office in Moscow issued a warning on Thursday evening, stating that any non-sanctioned gatherings near polling places could hinder citizens from exercising their right to vote and disrupt the work of the election commissions. This is considered a crime and carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The dangers faced by those who oppose Putin are still very great.

According to Navalny’s team, Volkov was assaulted on Tuesday in Lithuania near his residence. The perpetrators broke his car window, sprayed him with tear gas, and struck him with a hammer.

After being taken to the hospital, Volkov reported that his arm was broken and his leg was badly injured, causing significant pain when walking.

The accuser blamed “supporters of Putin” for the assault and claimed it was a strategy to frighten the group before the planned “Noon Against Putin” demonstration.

After Navalny’s absence, a few of his followers are adjusting their anticipated outcomes.

According to Valery, who is among the numerous individuals who have visited the newly-buried grave of Navalny in southeastern Moscow lately, he has a more negative view on the opposition’s future possibilities.

He expressed uncertainty about whether Yulia, his wife and now widow, would carry on the legacy in the same way as Alexey did when he was alive.

Source: voanews.com