Putin Opponent Dead

There was sad news this morning that Alexei Navalny has died in prison. He was the last significant political leader who dared to challenge Vladimir Putin.

Navalny attempted to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election. But Putin and his allies began an aggressive lawfare campaign against him. He was charged with corruption, convicted, and banned from running for office. But the result of the election was never in doubt.

Navalny would periodically be dragged into courts, and subjected to what looked like “real trials.” But they were, in fact, show trials that Russia has always been famous for.

His family and supporters were routinely harassed. They were denounced as “Nazis.” The entire apparatus of the Russian intelligence services, whose first job is to counter any external threats, turned all their power against him, his family, and his supporters.

Navalny was censored by the Russian media, and there was at least one attempt to kill him. Of course, Putin denied any responsibility.

The Russian government wanted to make sure that Navalny couldn’t challenge its power again, so he was prosecuted and convicted again. This time, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Wealthy oligarchs and other powerful forces in Russia said nothing to support him. The oligarchs are more interested in preserving their billions than in being a force for justice in Russia.

This morning, there was nonstop coverage on Fox News about his death. Many guests and some hosts were understandably angry. I am, too. It’s sad that there are authoritarian regimes like this. I am sad for his family.

But everything I just outlined above is being done to Donald Trump, to his supporters, to pro-life Catholics, to normal middle Americans exercising their constitutional rights, and to pastors who wanted to keep their churches open during COVID.

There is growing authoritarianism in our country today. Our intelligence agencies are conspiring with foreign intelligence agencies to take down a movement in America that seeks to stop the neo-Marxism of the left.

We are seeing in multiple cases how our legal system is being perverted for political purposes.

Here’s the bottom line: Russia has never been free. It was ruled by czars, then by communists, and today by the authoritarian Putin regime. We are not going to turn them into a democracy.

But America has always been free. Our history is the history of expanding freedom decade after decade. Until recent years, when powerful forces have been trying to methodically shrink our freedoms.

If someone wants to escape Putin, there is still a place like America to run to. But if we lose our liberty, there will be no place for us to go.