Patriot

Navalny writes that when Vladimir Putin rose to power in 1999, many Russians admired him for his youth, sobriety, and promising rhetoric. However, Navalny distrusted Putin from the outset, viewing his appointment as a political maneuver to secure legal immunity for Yeltsin and his family. Feeling “determined to resist” Putin (176), Navalny decided to enter politics and align with an opposition party. 

After evaluating various political parties, he chose Yabloko, a democratic party led by Grigory Yavlinsky. Though skeptical of Yavlinsky’s leadership style and the party’s rigidity, Navalny joined, determined to oppose the Kremlin’s control and promote democratic values. During this time, he also converted to Christianity. 

His initial experience with Yabloko was disillusioning due to its chaotic organization and resistance to newcomers, yet he persisted and became active in election campaigns and protests. Navalny managed Yabloko’s Moscow campaign for the 2003 Duma (Russian Parliament) elections. Despite strong local efforts, the party fell short of the 5% electoral threshold, which disillusioned him. He criticized the party’s passivity and Yavlinsky’s reliance on personal charisma rather than effective campaigning. Over time, Yabloko’s lack of adaptability and reluctance to engage with broader Russian society alienated Navalny.