Alexei Navalny

Remarks by Mikhail Baryshnikov, co-founder of True Russia

Good evening. Thank you, Professor Tucker, and thank you to the Trustees of the Civil Courage Prize for inviting me to be a part of honoring Alexey Navalny this evening for his courageous fight for human rights in Russia.

Like all of you, I am in awe of Navalny’s courage. His efforts to champion a more democratic vision for Russia are selfless and shocking. And insanely brave. 

I recently overheard a conversation where one person said, “Navalny should have stayed in Europe, and not return to Russia.” Another person answered, “You don’t understand. He could not not go.” After some thought, I realized that this was true: Alexey could not not go back. He is consumed by the idea that Russia and its people can and will survive yet another brutal authoritarian government. He believes in Russia when nearly nobody else does. And I have no better explanation for this other than to say that he loves Russia and its people more than anything else. It’s a love that demands selfless courage, and I think only a truly extraordinary individual can hold such a love.

Navalny often speaks of what he calls the “beautiful Russia of the future.” His optimism and love inspires us…compels us…to embrace his daring idea that Russians themselves can choose a different path if they are truly given the chance to do so.

It takes courage to believe this. It takes courage to even dream about this, but Alexey Navalny’s extraordinary courage is a beacon. This beacon can light the way to the idea of a “beautiful Russia of the future.”  

Thank you.

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