Yulia Navalnaya: Alexei Navalny's widow seeks Russian presidency in a post-Putin Russia
Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, has said she will seek the Russian presidency should Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin no longer be in power.
In an interview with the BBC, Ms Navalnaya was asked whether she could imagine ever standing for the presidency.
When the time is right, “I will participate in the elections, as a candidate,” she said.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“My political opponent is Vladimir Putin. And I will do everything to make his regime fall as soon as possible.”
Ms Navalnaya is currently promoting the autobiography Patriot by her late husband, who died in a Russian penal colony at the beginning of the year. He was one of Putin’s biggest critics and opponents.
After his death, his wife announced that she would continue his opposition work from exile abroad.
The circumstances of Mr Navalny’s death have not been clarified but his wife accused Putin of having him murdered.
Everything has changed in her and her family’s life since his death, Ms Navalnaya added. But she explained that she had a lot planned in a post-Putin Russia and that this has helped her cope.
During Mr Navalny’s time in prison, she felt very close to him. “And of course, it’s very difficult without him,” she added.
Ms Navalnaya - who lives abroad - said that while Mr Putin is in charge, she cannot go back home.
But she said she looks forward to the day she believes will inevitably come when the Putin era ends and Russia once again opens up.
