DISINFO: Navalny is a Western project to influence Russia
SUMMARY
Alexei Navalny, who heads the liberal party Russia of the Future, is clearly a Western project designed to exert some form of permanent influence on Russia.
The West wants to use this figure [Navalny] to organise social unrest, strikes, destabilisation in Russia and new Maidans.
RESPONSE
Recurring pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative attempting to discredit Alexei Navalny built around the concept of ubiquitous Russophobia and anti-Russian provocations by Western countries to encircle and destabilise Russia.
Alexei Navalny, in addition to founding the Russia of the Future party in 2018, is also the founder and leader of the "Anti-Corruption Foundation" (FBK), which has investigated embezzlement from the state budget, uncovered the lives of Russian politicians and businessmen close to the government and different corruption practices. FBK's goal is to eliminate corruption. Their funding comes from donations and therefore the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation recognised FBK as a "foreign agent" due to the Russian "foreign agent" law, since they receive donations from outside Russia. However, FBK does not agree with this claim and is appealing it in court.
Alexei Navalny was arrested following his return to Russia from Germany, where he was treated for poisoning with a Novichok-type chemical nerve agent. The European Union has condemned his arrest and demanded his immediate release.
See further disinformation claims that Alexei Navalny is a depleted political project; that the neo-liberal forces behind Navalny will intensify their attempts to destroy Russia; that Navalny is used as an instrument by Western special services and that the West needs Alexei Navalny to destabilise the situation in Russia.