Russian state media, known for its lack of coverage on government critics, has continued this trend with the reported death of Alexei Navalny. Major state TV channels, including Channel One and Rossiya 1, provided minimal and delayed coverage of Navalny’s death. These reports lacked context about Navalny’s identity and his reasons for imprisonment.
In contrast, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram have been flooded with news about Navalny’s death. Posts about him have received hundreds of thousands to over a million views within hours.
While Navalny’s team has not confirmed the news, many figures sympathetic to his cause have expressed disbelief and sorrow. Former Russian oligarch turned Putin critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, held President Vladimir Putin personally responsible for Navalny’s premature death.
However, several pro-government figures suggested that the West or Russian opposition could benefit from Navalny’s death rather than Putin. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of state international broadcaster RT, dismissed Western reaction and claimed there was no reason to kill Navalny.
Channel One presenter Anatoly Kuzichev speculated that Navalny’s death could have been an accident or an act of sabotage. Similarly, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova criticized the quick response of Western leaders, stating their conclusions were ready even without a forensic examination.
