Navalny and Gulag Survivor Sharansky Bond Over Shared Struggle in Historic Prison Letters
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Alexei Navalny and Natan Sharansky, a gulag survivor, exchanged letters in 2023 while Navalny was imprisoned, bonding over the similarities between the Soviet and current Russian prison systems.
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In his letters, Navalny expressed hope to be the last to endure the brutal conditions but retained his sense of humor, while Sharansky encouraged him to stay internally free.
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Navalny was moved by Sharansky's memoir about his own imprisonment, saying it gave him strength and that Sharansky's legacy continues to inspire dissidents today.
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One year after their correspondence began, Navalny allegedly died in the prison in February 2024, with his wife accusing Putin of poisoning him.
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The historic letters memorialize the friendship between the activists and Navalny's commitment to exposing injustice despite the consequences.