Is laughter the deadliest weapon? Alexei Navalny, the most famous critic of Vladimir Putin, is dead. But some supporters think he will live on through laughter.
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The man who refused to take Putin seriously
Is laughter the deadliest weapon? Alexei Navalny, the most famous critic of Vladimir Putin, is dead. But some supporters think he will live on through laughter.
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What's happening?
Just one day before his death, Alexei NavalnyA well-known opposition leader in Russia and critic of Vladimir Putin, who died in prison in 2024 at the age of 47. appeared in court on a livestream from jail in the Russian ArcticThe area in and around the north pole.. He found the strength to make a final joke: "Conditions of detentionBeing kept in custody by the state, or a punishment in which children are made to stay at school after classes have ended. are good, touch wood."
Alexei Navalny spent years sharing stories of corruptionWhen someone abuses their power for personal gain. It often involves bribery. and campaigning against the rule of RussiaThe largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.'s leader Vladimir PutinRussia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.. On Friday, Russia announced that he had died in prison at the age of 47.
Navalny faced danger many times in his life. In 2020, he was poisoned and needed to go to hospital in Germany for treatment to save his life.
Afterwards, he chose to go back to Russia. His decision shocked many people, who said he would be safer outside of Russia.
When he returned in 2021, he was arrestedStopped by the police and taken to a police station. and sentencedDeclare the punishment for a person who has done something wrong. to 19 years in prison.
It was not Navalny's political power that made him dangerous to Vladimir Putin. In fact, he did not have large numbers of followers in Russia.
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Instead, it was his humourThe ability to find things funny, or the things you find funny. . He always smiled and joked, even when he was made to appear in court. It made the whole thing seem like a big joke.
Humour works by making powerful leaders look ridiculousSilly or absurd.. When people laugh at dangerous leaders, it shows that they do not fear them anymore.
Is laughter the deadliest weapon?
Yes! People admire those who can laugh even when they are in a terrible situation. Navalny's smile won him more support than any speech ever could.
No! In the end, Putin is still in power. And Navalny is dead and can no longer campaign for a different Russia. Laughter is not the deadliest weapon.
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Keywords
Alexei Navalny - A well-known opposition leader in Russia and critic of Vladimir Putin, who died in prison in 2024 at the age of 47.
Arctic - The area in and around the north pole.
Detention - Being kept in custody by the state, or a punishment in which children are made to stay at school after classes have ended.
Corruption - When someone abuses their power for personal gain. It often involves bribery.
Russia - The largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.
Vladimir Putin - Russia's ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.
Sentenced - Declare the punishment for a person who has done something wrong.
Humour - The ability to find things funny, or the things you find funny.
Ridiculous - Silly or absurd.
The man who refused to take Putin seriously
Unbowed: Alexei Navalny was not afraid to stand up to authorities in Russia. Glossary
Alexei Navalny - A well-known opposition leader in Russia and critic of Vladimir Putin, who died in prison in 2024 at the age of 47.
Arctic - The area in and around the north pole.
Detention - Being kept in custody by the state, or a punishment in which children are made to stay at school after classes have ended.
Corruption - When someone abuses their power for personal gain. It often involves bribery.
Russia - The largest country in the world by area. It has a population of 144 million people.
Vladimir Putin - Russia’s ruler since 2000. He is a strong opponent of the West.
Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.
Sentenced - Declare the punishment for a person who has done something wrong.
Humour - The ability to find things funny, or the things you find funny.
Ridiculous - Silly or absurd.