<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper"><strong>You're killing me</strong></h2>

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 his Arctic jail. Although he must already have been on his last legs, he found the strength to make a final joke: "Conditions of detention are good, touch wood."¹

What made Navalny so dangerous to Putin was not his political power. He did not command a mass movement or widespread loyalty in the Russian population. Many liberal opponents of Putin were suspicious of him because of his far-rightA range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents. views on immigration and Russian imperialismThe practice of growing a country's power through colonisation or force. .²

He was dangerous because of his personal courage. He was unrelenting in his campaign to investigate and expose corruption at the highest level of the state.

After Putin tried to poison him in 2020, he could have claimed asylumWhen a state agrees to shelter somebody who is fleeing dangerous circumstances. The right to asylum is protected in international law by the 1951 Refugee Convention. abroad, but instead he went straight back to Russia to be arrested - an extraordinary act of defiance.

But he was also dangerous because of his sense of humour. Whenever the state hauled him up for questioning he would be photographed smiling and laughing. It made the whole thing seem like one big absurd joke.

It put him in stark contrast with his self-important, humourless nemesis in the KremlinA central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel..

That meant for the government he was a constant source of irritation. Putin could not even bring himself to call Navalny by his name, instead referring to him as "that gentleman".

Navalny is not the first person to defy power with humour. He is in the same tradition as SocratesConsidered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason., who was called a "gadflyA person who deliberately annoys authority figures to provoke them into action. " because of the way his irreverent questions bothered the authorities in his native AthensOne of the great city-states of the ancient world and the birthplace of democracy..³

Socrates was put on trial for impietyA lack of respect for something sacred. and found guilty. He joked that his punishment should be free meals for life. Instead, the jury voted for him to be put to death.

Supposedly, some of the jurors who had found him innocent were so annoyed by his wisecrack they switched their vote to the death penalty.

Some historical figures have taken advantage of the fact that death gives them the last word. In the early 15th Century, the Prince of Yan usurpedSeize or take something over without authority. the throne of China. He summoned the famed scholar Fang Xiaoru to write a speech justifying his new reign.

Instead, Fang wrote on the paper: "The Bandit of Yan is a usurper". Yan threatened him with the most serious punishment in Chinese law: the execution of nine kinshipRelatedness, either through blood or by marriage, adoption etc. , where every single one of his relatives would be put to death. 

Fang retorted: "Never mind nine kinship, I'll take ten!". As a result his students were killed as well. Supposedly, 873 people met their deaths because of his quip.

When Fang himself was executed, he dipped one finger in his own blood to write the word "usurper" on the ground.⁴ Yan did not have a response to that.

Humour works because in making them look absurd, it breaks through the fear that authoritarianEnforcing strict obedience to authority. leaders have to inspire. When people are no longer afraid of them, they are vulnerableat risk of being harmed.

But some are not so impressed by this approach to resistance. After all, Yan became emperor anyway, one of the greatest in Chinese history. He left his trace in the majestic Forbidden CityA palace complex in Beijing, China, built in the 15th Century. at the heart of BeijingChina's capital. .

And while Navalny is mourned, Putin still squats in the Kremlin, certain of re-election this year, his future more secure than ever.

Is ridicule the deadliest weapon?

Yes: People admire courage and good humour in the face of terrible adversity. Navalny's smile will have won him more support than any number of speeches fulminatingCriticising severely. against Putin.

No: Humour might win admiration from history but it does not topple rulers. Often it just results in even more bloodshed and suffering.

Or... Jokes do not topple rulers. But in authoritarian countries where individuals have no power against the state, they are often the only way of showing defiance and proving that the government is not all-mighty.

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.

Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.

Imperialism - The practice of growing a country's power through colonisation or force.

Asylum - When a state agrees to shelter somebody who is fleeing dangerous circumstances. The right to asylum is protected in international law by the 1951 Refugee Convention.

Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.

Socrates - Considered by some to be the greatest philosopher in history, Socrates is credited with developing the whole notion of critical reason.

Gadfly - A person who deliberately annoys authority figures to provoke them into action.

Athens - One of the great city-states of the ancient world and the birthplace of democracy.

Impiety - A lack of respect for something sacred.

Usurped - Seize or take something over without authority.

Kinship - Relatedness, either through blood or by marriage, adoption etc.

Authoritarian - Enforcing strict obedience to authority.

vulnerable - at risk of being harmed

Forbidden City - A palace complex in Beijing, China, built in the 15th Century.

Beijing - China's capital.

Fulminating - Criticising severely.