For a decade, Russian President Vladimir Putin has avoided putting his gadfly opponent Alexey Navalny behind bars for any considerable length of time — until Feb. 26, when a Moscow court ordered Navalny to spend the next two and a half years in prison. It’s worth examining both why Putin thought it necessary and why he felt he could afford it. These reasons have a direct bearing on Navalny’s chances to fight back, build political support and ultimately challenge Putin for power.
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Opposition leader Alexei Navalny's wife Yulia Navalnaya (C) is seen surrounded by people as she leaves Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport upon the arrival from Berlin on Jan. 17, 2021.
