Russian opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny has died in prison, the country’s prison service announced Friday. He was an anticorruption campaigner who rose to become the most prominent critic of President Vladimir V. Putin. U.S. President Joe Biden said this afternoon that he there was “no doubt” that Putin’s government was behind Navalny’s death.
If you would like more context on this matter, please consider David Szakonyi, an associate professor of political science at the George Washington University. He is an expert on Russian politics. His research focuses on corruption, clientelism, and political economy in Russia, Western Europe, and the United States. His book -- Politics for Profit: Business, Elections, and Policymaking in Russia examines why business people run for elected political office worldwide, how their firms perform as a result, and whether individuals with private sector experience make different policy decisions. Other research looks at the effectiveness of anti-corruption campaigns, employers mobilizing their voters to turnout during elections, and nepotism under authoritarian rule. Szakonyi’s expertise spans political economy, business-government relations, post-Soviet politics, corruption, authoritarianism, and clientelism
Szakonyi is following the news of Navalny’s death. If you would like to speak with Prof. Szakonyi, please contact GW Media Relations Specialist Cate Douglass at [email protected].
-GW-