The death of Alexei Navalny in Russia serves as a reminder of the constant risks faced by Cambodian political prisoners and dissidents who have survived assassination attempts and other physical attacks.
Navalny, the most prominent critic of the brutal dictatorship of Vladimir Putin, died in an Arctic prison where he was serving jail terms totaling 29 years. He was only 47 years of age, and his family and supporters are convinced that he was killed on Putin’s orders.
Navalny’s death shows the importance of a more coherent international position on political prisoners in dictatorial regimes. Waiting and hoping for the best serves no purpose.
