Navalny widow to Americans: Don't take democracy for granted

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, encouraged Americans not to take democracy for granted, in an interview on ABC’s “The View” that aired Thursday.

"I would say to American voters, don't take everything like granted," Navalnaya said in the interview when asked what her message is to Americans, less than two weeks before the 2024 election.

"You are still living in democratic country, and I still believe in American institutions, and just make the right choice,” Navalnaya said.

Navalnaya did not say, nor was she asked about, her candidate preference in the upcoming elections.

In a December 2023 letter — shortly before Navalny was moved to a remote Arctic prison, where he would die a couple months later — Navalny remarked on the state of the election. He warned of a potential second Donald Trump presidency, calling the GOP candidate’s agenda “really scary,” The New York Times reported.

Navalny also said in the letter, according to the Times, that if President Biden’s health suffered, “Trump will become the president,” adding, “Doesn’t think obvious thing concern the Democrats?”

Navalny, who rose to prominence for his campaign against corruption and Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in a remote Arctic penal colony in February 2024 at the age of 47.

His death caused a public outcry and prompted scrutiny of Russia from around the world. Navalny had been imprisoned since 2021, when he returned to Russia after recovering from a poisoning that he blamed on Putin, who denies the claims.

Shortly after Navalny’s death, Navalnaya pledged to take on the mantle of her husband’s life’s work of fighting corruption in Russia. She gave the interview this week as part of a publicity push for her husband’s memoir, “Patriot,” which was published posthumously this week and was written mostly while Navalny was imprisoned.

"When he was killed, it was very important for me to show that even they are ready to kill the person, to kill our opposition leader. He wasn't just my husband, he was very close friend," Navalnaya said in the interview.

"He was leader whom I supported, and it was very important for me to show that we'll continue our fight. And to remind the world about him."