Eliminate the minor political threat that Navalny poses while in prison
Make sure he never plays any part in Russian politics again, in the very slim chance he escapes prison, or is the same person 30 years later (when his imprisonment would end).
West gains:
The few Russians who supported Navalny might now increase in numbers due to perceived martyrdom
Nazi and defeatist voices become more prominent in Russian discourse for the coming month, as the discussion turns to Navalny’s death
Rallying cry against Putin
Make Putin look like a dictator
Revitalize anti-Russian sentiment and fearmongering (excuse diplomatic actions, military funding, and mishandling of other national affairs)
Can constantly talk about this in the news for the next 1-2 years
Revitalize support for Ukraine, which was dangerously waning (with a US election coming up in a few months, and the current president being criticized from everywhere that he spent too much on Ukraine and Israel)
Turn attention away from condemnation of Israel as a genocide perpetrator by the ICJ (Honestly, this alone is reason enough for Israel to have done it)
Strengthen NATO by herding more potential members forward
I actually expect the whole thing will fizzle out relatively quickly. Nobody really cared about Navalny at this point anyways, and people who would get really riled up by this already think the worst of Russia anyways. At some point you kind of run out of ways to demonize further.
This does play an immediate role as a distraction from the collapse in Avdevka though and the fact that political situation in Ukraine is starting to look very precarious. So, assuming that Bild isn’t full of shit, the main goal would’ve been to create a big distraction that can be milked for the next couple of months or so.
We’re going to learn that the same people who blew up nordstream took out Navalny, aren’t we?
Just look at who gains and loses from this:
Russia gains:
West gains:
I actually expect the whole thing will fizzle out relatively quickly. Nobody really cared about Navalny at this point anyways, and people who would get really riled up by this already think the worst of Russia anyways. At some point you kind of run out of ways to demonize further.
This does play an immediate role as a distraction from the collapse in Avdevka though and the fact that political situation in Ukraine is starting to look very precarious. So, assuming that Bild isn’t full of shit, the main goal would’ve been to create a big distraction that can be milked for the next couple of months or so.
looks that way