Yulia Navalnaya, 2024
Russian public figure and economist
48 x 60 inches
Oil on canvas
"I will continue the work of Alexei Navalny. I will continue to fight for our country. And I call on you to stand with me. To share not only the grief and the endless pain that has enveloped us and won't leave us. I ask you to share with me the rage. Rage, anger, hatred for those who dare to kill our future. ... It is not shameful to do little, it is shameful to do nothing. It is shameful to let yourself be intimidated,"
—Yulia Navalnaya
Yulia Navalnaya is the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny and has been described in media as the "first lady" of the Russian opposition. When the suspected murder of her husband was announced Navalnaya, who had been attending the Munich Security Conference, subsequently gave a speech in which she stated she was not sure if the reports were true, but commented that if her husband had died, that Putin and his allies "will be brought to justice". Having always been by his side as a devoted wife and companion and even speaking at a few rallys when he was alive, after her husband's death Navalanya announced that she would continue his work. On 1 July 2024, Navalnaya became the chairperson of the Human Rights Foundation and on 9 July 2024, Russia's Basmanny District Court ordered the arrest of Navalnaya (who was not in or living in Russia at the time) for "participating in an extremist community". Days later she was placed on Russia's official list of terrorists and extremists.