DISINFO: Alexey Navalny is in prison for economic crimes
SUMMARY
Alexei Navalny was not convicted for his political activities, but a criminal offence against foreign partners. As far as political activity goes, no one should be using political activity as a front to carry out business projects, which, on top of that, violate the law.
Second, with regard to non-systemic opposition in general, in Western countries, Europe or the United States, Occupy Wall Street in the United States or the Yellow Vests in France are not enjoying much support on their way to representative bodies, including parliament.
Moreover, when, following the US elections, people entered Congress with political demands, more than 100 criminal cases were brought against them. And judging by the charges, they are facing long prison terms anywhere from 15 to 20–25 years, maybe even more.
RESPONSE
Recurrent pro-Kremlin's narrative concerning Russian opposition and Alexei Navalny in particular.
The claim that the Yves Rocher Vostok company was a victim of Navalny brothers is wrong. Read here further debunking of this message.
The comparison of Russian opposition with the Yellow Vest movement in France is whataboutism and does not stand factual comparison. The Yellow Vest movement in France had managed to influence the executive power and measures costing more than 17 billion euros in their favour were decided during the early months of the protest. Apart from that, a grand national debate was organised and the protesters were free to create parties and organise their political claims, some created lists for election and were free to register. Alexei Navalny on the other hand was denied the right to register his party in Russia many times over the years, he was denied the right to run for elections and was poisoned and jailed.
The EU has condemned the detention of Alexei Navalny and called for his immediate release. On 19 August 2021 French president Emmanuel Macron called Russia for the immediate release of Alexei Navalny in accordance with the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.
See related pro-Kremlin disinformation claims, alleging that new EU sanctions on Russia are a "circus" and a "fake story"; that Europe made up a strange story about Navalny poisoning as a pretext for sanctions; and that the EU lost more from sanctions than Russia.