Widow of Russian opposition leader Yulia Navalnaya visits Australia

‘Fearless voice’: Yulia Navalnaya, widow of Russian opposition leader, visits Australia

yulia

Foreign minister Penny Wong will meet on Wednesday with Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader who died in 2024 after being sent to a prison.

Now the de facto leader of the Russian opposition and Chair of the International Anti-Corruption Foundation Advisory Board, Yulia is visiting Australia for the first time, with plans to meet with Australian leaders in Canberra. 

Her visit comes as Wong announced in a statement that the Australian government is “imposing further targeted financial sanctions and travel bans against 14 individuals responsible for silencing political expression in Russia, as well as enabling the illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine”.

The government said this announcement builds on previous sanctions against Russia, including three packages since 2022 targeting individuals involved in the poisoning death of Yulia’s husband, Alexei. 

“The human rights situation in Russia continues to deteriorate with violent crackdowns aimed at suppressing human rights and anti-war advocacy,” Wong said, condemning Russia’s actions. 

Wong described Yulia as “a fearless voice for democracy in Russia, continuing her fight at immense personal cost”. 

“Russia failed to undertake an independent and transparent investigation into Mr Navalny’s death, and Australia holds President Putin and the Russian Government responsible,” the statement said. 

“We honour Ms Navalnaya’s courage and reflect on Mr Navalny’s sacrifice and enduring legacy in the fight for freedom and justice.”

Just three months ago, Russian president Vladimir Putin brought fake criminal charges against Yulia. 

In an exclusive interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, Yulia said that “nowhere is safe” for her, but that she refuses to be afraid. 

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