Yulia Navalnaya

Yulia Borisovna Navalnaya (Russian: Юлия Борисовна Навальная, IPA: [ˈjulija nɐˈvalʲnɐja]; née Abrosimova; born 24 July 1976) is a Russian public figure, economist and the wife of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. She has been described in media as the "First Lady" of the Russian opposition and as a hypothetical candidate for the leadership of the opposition and the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), presidency of the country and the State Duma.[1][2][3]

In this Eastern Slavic name, the patronymic is Borisovna and the family name is Navalnaya.
Yulia Navalnaya
Юлия Навальная
At an event in support of Alexei Navalny, 2013
Born
Yulia Borisovna Abrosimova

(1976-07-24) 24 July 1976
Moscow, Soviet Union
Alma materPlekhanov Russian University of Economics
OccupationEconomist, housewife
Spouse(s)Alexei Navalny
Children2

Biography

Early years

Yulia Abrosimova was born on July 24, 1976 in Moscow, Soviet Union (USSR), in the family of a scientist Boris Alexandrovich Abrosimov (1952—1996). Her mother worked for the Ministry of Light Industry; parents divorced when Yulia was in fifth grade, her mother married a second time, to an employee of the USSR State Planning Committee. In 2020, journalist Oleg Kashin said that Yulia's father is the currently living Boris Borisovich Abrosimov, the secretary of the Russian embassy in Great Britain, associated with the special services, and her aunt is Elena Borisovna Abrosimova, one of the authors of the Russian constitution. Yulia's husband, in response to this, published a death certificate for his father-in-law, dated 1996.[4]

Yulia graduated from the Faculty of International Economic Relations of the Plekhanov Russian Economic Academy, later did an internship abroad, studied in graduate school,[5] and worked for some time in one of the Moscow banks.[6]

In the summer of 1998, while on vacation in Turkey, Yulia met her peer Alexei Navalny, a lawyer, also a resident of Moscow. In 2000, she became the wife of Navalny, later gave birth to two children — daughter Daria (2001) and son Zakhar (2008). She helped her husband's parents in their business related to basket weaving.[5] After 2007, Yulia did not work officially anywhere, calling herself “the main one in matters of everyday life and raising children”.[6] In 2000, Navalnaya, together with her husband, joined the Yabloko party,[5] from which she left in May 2011.[7]

With Alexei Navalny
Alexey Navalny with his wife Yulia at the march on June 12, 2013 in Moscow

After 2007, Alexei Navalny gained all-Russian fame as a blogger and opposition politician. Yulia became the first secretary and assistant to her husband. The family's life became noticeably more public, so that Navalnaya was in the spotlight as the "first lady of the Russian opposition."[6] Observers note that she never tried to position herself as an independent figure: Yulia always behaves like a devoted wife and companion ("the Decembrist's wife"), ready for harsh statements and decisive actions if her husband needs it, but not directly related to politics. She spoke at a number of rallies; she called the head of the National Guard of Russia Viktor Zolotov, who in September 2018 challenged Alexei Navalny to a "duel", as a "thief, coward and impudent bandit".[8][9]

Yulia attracted close public attention in the late summer-early fall of 2020, when her husband was urgently hospitalized in Omsk, Russia on suspicion of poisoning. She demanded that Alexei be released to Germany for treatment, and even turned directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.[10][11][12] After German experts confirmed Navalny's poisoning, Russian physician Leonid Roshal said that no poisonous substance was found in Navalny's samples in Russia and suggested creating a Russian-German team on this matter. Yulia accused him of acting "not as a doctor, but as the voice of the state."[13][14][15] She followed her husband to Berlin, was next to him at the Charité hospital, and Navalny later posted a message “Yulia, you saved me”,[16] which, according to a correspondent of the newspaper Novaya Gazeta, “seems to forever go down in the history of Russian politics”. Novaya Gazeta and its audience named Navalnaya the Hero of the Year-2020.[17] All key European media outlets closely followed her activity and quoted her posts on social networks.[6]

In January 2021, Yulia returned to Russia with her husband. After Alexei was detained at the border control, she made a statement that the arrest and the closure of the airport in Vnukovo were a manifestation of the Russian authorities' fear of Navalny. “Alexey said that he is not afraid,” she said. “— And I'm not afraid either. And I urge you all not to be afraid.”[18] Later, Yulia accused the security officials of being "persecuted as the wife of an enemy of the people." She wrote on Instagram: "The Year of '37 has come, and we did not notice."[19][20][21] On 21 January, Yulia announced that she would go to the rally to demand the release of her husband.[22] On 23 January, she was detained, but released the same evening.[23]

Assessment of the possible political future of Navalnaya
Spouses Navalny after the release of Alexei from custody thanks to the appeal of the prosecutor's office on July 19, 2013

In 2015, Yulia was ranked 67th in the top hundred most influential women in Russia by Echo of Moscow.[24] After Alexei Navalny received a suspended sentence, the opinion was expressed that his wife could nominate herself for the presidency instead of him. According to Russian public figure Ksenia Sobchak, in 2018 she offered this option to Alexei, but he rejected it saying "votes are not handed over".[25]

In September 2020, after the poisoning of Navalny, opinions began to appear that Yulia is now beginning to play an independent political role and may become the "Russian Tsikhanouskaya" — the leader of the entire opposition.[26][27][28] Political analyst Konstantin Kalachev said that Yulia's role has changed: "From the wife of a politician, she is herself becoming a politician"; "she has charisma and charm, and can easily replace her husband if necessary".[2] Political strategist Abbas Gallyamov compared Yulia to Corazon Aquino, the wife of the main opposition leader in the Philippines who opposed the regime of the dictator that ruled for twenty years.[29][30][31] There are also opinions that such a turn of events is unlikely.[32]

In January 2021, the pro-Kremlin channel Tsargrad TV threatened to publish intimate files of Alexei Navalny unless Yulia promised "not to become Tsikhanouskaya in Russia" and "not to play political games".[33][34][35]

Russian collector Marat Gelman noted that "Navalnaya will become a powerful politician," and now can win elections in Russia against anyone except Putin.[36] It was suggested that Navalnaya would nominate herself for the State Duma in 2021.[37][38] According to political scientist Sergei Markov, Yulia could head the Anti-Corruption Foundation if Lyubov Sobol does not get this post.[39]

Russian writer Dmitry Bykov said that Navalnaya reminds him of the heroine of Lyudmila Petrushevskaya: she "faces circumstances stronger than her, but some miracle helps her to defeat the world's evil."[40]

References
  1. Carroll, Oliver (23 January 2021). "First Lady: Russia warms to the woman who 'saved' Alexei Navalny". The Independent. Moscow. Retrieved 24 January 2021.(Subscription required.)
  2. Bennetts, Marc (21 January 2021). "Yulia Navalnaya: I've been under surveillance since Alexei's arrest". The Times. Moscow. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 January 2021.(Subscription required.)
  3. ""Путин – х...йло и гнида". Чичваркин прокомментировал задержание Навального" ["Putin – k... ylo and nit". Chichvarkin commented on the detention of Navalny]. gordonua.com. 17 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  4. Navalny, Alexei (24 November 2020). "Девочки-убийцы, или предъявите своё свидетельство о смерти" [Killer girls, or show your death certificate]. navalny.com (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  5. Sokolov, Dmitry (5 December 2020). "От курортного романа к спасительной любви: что связало Юлию и Алексея Навальных" [From a resort romance to saving love: what connected Yulia and Alexei Navalny]. sobesednik.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. Cheprasova, Elizaveta (18 January 2021). "Первая леди оппозиции: что мы знаем о Юлии Навальной" [First Lady of the opposition: what do we know about Yulia Navalnaya]. woman.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  7. Гусев, Владимир (9 February 2017). "Юлия Навальная: первая леди России-2018, которую мы потеряли из-за махинаций ее мужа". Блокнот Россия. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  8. Navalnaya, Yulia (12 September 2018). "«Вор и трус, наглый бандит». Юлия Навальная ответила главе Росгвардии" ["Thief and coward, impudent bandit." Yulia Navalnaya answered the head of the National Guard of Russia]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. "Юлия Навальная считает обращение главы Росгвардии угрозой всей семье" [Yulia Navalnaya considers the appeal of the head of the National Guard of Russia a threat to the whole family]. Kommersant (in Russian). 12 September 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  10. "Юлия Навальная потребовала у Путина разрешение вывезти мужа в Германию" [Yulia Navalnaya demanded permission from Putin to take her husband to Germany]. Meduza (in Russian). 21 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  11. "Юлия Навальная официально требует от президента Путина разрешить транспортировку ее мужа в Германию" [Yulia Navalnaya officially demands that President Putin allow her husband to be transported to Germany]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). 21 August 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  12. "Алексей и Юлия Навальные дали огромное интервью Юрию Дудю. Мы выбрали главное из разговора, который длится 2,5 часа" [Alexey and Yulia Navalny gave a huge interview to Yuri Dud. We chose the main thing from a conversation that lasts 2.5 hours]. Meduza (in Russian). 6 October 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  13. Navalnaya, Yulia (6 September 2020). "«Мой муж — не ваша собственность». Юлия Навальная ответила на инициативу доктора Рошаля по лечению ее супруга" ["My husband is not your property." Yulia Navalnaya responded to Dr. Roshal's initiative to treat her husband]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  14. Roshal, Leonid (7 September 2020). "«Все понимают Ваше состояние». Леонид Рошаль ответил на критику со стороны Юлии Навальной" ["Everyone understands your condition." Leonid Roshal responded to criticism from Yulia Navalnaya]. Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  15. "Юлия Навальная отвергла инициативу доктора Рошаля создать совместную российско-немецкую экспертную группу" [Yulia Navalnaya rejected Dr. Roshal's initiative to create a joint Russian-German expert group]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). 6 September 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  16. Kellogg, Amy (16 October 2020). "Being Navalny: Russian activist, wife explain his brush with death after poisoning, escaping for treatment". Fox News. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  17. Chelishcheva, Vera (26 December 2020). "«Юля, ты меня спасла»" ["Yulia, you saved me"]. Novaya Gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  18. "Жена Навального прокомментировала его задержание" [Navalny's wife commented on his detention]. Kommersant (in Russian). 17 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  19. ""Наступил 37-й год, а мы и не заметили". Юлия Навальная сообщила о слежке" ["The Year of '37 has come, and we did not notice." Yulia Navalnaya reported on surveillance]. Current Time TV (in Russian). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  20. Navalnaya, Yulia (20 January 2021). "Юлия Навальная: Наступил 37-й год, а мы и не заметили" [Yulia Navalnaya: The Year of '37 has come and we did not notice]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  21. "«Наступил 37-й год». Юлия Навальная уверена, что её «караулят» полицейские (фото)" ["The Year of '37 has come." Yulia Navalnaya is sure that the police are "watching" her (photo)]. fontanka.ru (in Russian). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  22. "Юлия Навальная назвала несколько личных причин пойти 23 января на акцию протеста" ["For myself, for him, for our children, for values and ideals"]. znak.com. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  23. "Russia: Police detain thousands at pro-Navalny protests". Deutsche Welle. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  24. "Эхо-рейтинг: 100 самых влиятельных женщин России — рейтинг" [Echo rating: 100 most influential women in Russia - rating]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). 8 March 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  25. "Собчак: Навальный отказался выдвинуть жену Юлию в президенты". ВЗГЛЯД.РУ (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  26. ""Российская Тихановская": Потапенко рассказал, кто может стать лидером оппозиции вместо Навального". sobesednik.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  27. "«Навальный может погибнуть в тюрьме». Прокремлевский политолог Сергей Марков о сценариях будущего для «берлинского пациента»". www.fontanka.ru (in Russian). 18 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  28. "«Навальный — это бренд, и он будет работать»: сможет ли Юлия Навальная повторить путь Светланы Тихановской". www.e1.ru (in Russian). 20 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  29. ""Картинка насилия для Кремля лучше". Аббас Галлямов объясняет страхи российской власти" ["The picture of violence is better for the Kremlin." Abbas Gallyamov explains the fears of the Russian authorities]. Current Time TV (in Russian). 17 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  30. Gallyamov, Abbas (18 January 2021). "Аббас Галлямов: О политических перспективах Юлии Навальной" [Abbas Gallyamov: On the political prospects of Yulia Navalnaya]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  31. Galyamov, Abbas (19 January 2021). "Аббас Галлямов: "Антисистемные настроения создают спрос на "антиполитических" кандидатов"" [Abbas Gallyamov: "Anti-systemic sentiments create demand for "anti-political" candidates"]. NEWSru (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  32. Shevchenko, Maxim (13 January 2021). "Максим Шевченко: «Эффекта Хомейни» не получится" [Maxim Shevchenko: "The Khomeini Effect" will not work]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  33. Lobkov, Pavel (16 January 2021). "Телеканал «Царьград» выдвинул ультиматум Юлии Навальной" [TV channel "Tsargrad" issued an ultimatum to Yulia Navalnaya]. tvrain.ru. Dozhd. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  34. Лейзаренко, Даша (17 January 2021). "«Царьград» предложил Юлии Навальной «не играть в политические игры» в обмен на интимные фото, которые якобы шлют её мужу — Новости на TJ". TJ. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  35. "Yulia Navalnaya, Kremlin critic's wife, in the spotlight". France 24. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  36. "Гельман: У жены Навального есть все шансы стать «мощным» политиком" [Gelman: Navalny's wife has every chance of becoming a "powerful" politician]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). 18 January 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  37. "«Немецкое издание» с текстами от RT, Юлия Навальная и «зарубежные кураторы»" ["German media" with texts from RT, Yulia Navalnaya and "foreign curators"]. Ostwest TV (in Russian). 25 November 2020. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  38. Malyarenko, Evgeniya (26 November 2020). "Писавший о Навальном «немецкий портал» «самоудалился» после начала его проверки в ФРГ. Он копировал тексты RT" [The "German portal" who wrote about Navalny "self-removed" after the start of his inspection in Germany. He copied RT texts]. Open Media (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  39. Кочесокова, Анастасия (18 January 2021). "Марков назвал Соболь и Юлию Навальную возможными кандидатами в лидеры ФБК :". Вести Подмосковья (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  40. Bykov, Dmitry (18 December 2020). "Кусок эфира: Дмитрий Быков: Я бы дорого дал, чтобы из Навального не получился авторитарный руководитель" [A piece of air: Dmitry Bykov: I would give dearly so that Navalny does not turn out to be an authoritarian leader]. Echo of Moscow (in Russian). Retrieved 24 January 2021.
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