### Navalny’s Memoir Reveals His Struggle and Resolve Against Russian Corruption

Newly disclosed excerpts from the memoir of Alexei Navalny, the late Russian opposition figure, reveal his belief that he would meet his end in prison. Navalny, renowned for his steadfast resistance against President Vladimir Putin and pervasive corruption in Russia, passed away in a remote Arctic prison in February while serving a 19-year sentence. The convictions against him, which included accusations of leading an extremist group, were widely regarded by Navalny as politically motivated.

Navalny's forthcoming book, "Patriot," set to be released on 22 October, was previewed through extracts published by The New Yorker and the Times. He had been incarcerated since 2021 following his return from Germany, where he was recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning he attributed to the Kremlin. Russian officials, however, have strenuously denied any involvement in both the poisoning and his subsequent death.

The memoir was initiated during Navalny's recovery in Germany and continued during his time in Russia, often written from within prison walls. On 22 March 2022, Navalny penned a poignant note reflecting on his presumed fate: "I will spend the rest of my life in prison and die here. There will not be anybody to say goodbye to... All anniversaries will be celebrated without me. I'll never see my grandchildren."

Despite his grim outlook, Navalny's writings underscore his unwavering resolve against authoritarian rule. "My approach to the situation is certainly not one of contemplative passivity. I am trying to do everything I can from here to put an end to authoritarianism (or, more modestly, to contribute to ending it)," he asserted on the same date.

In a passage dated a month before his demise on 17 January 2024, Navalny addresses the recurring question posed by both fellow prisoners and guards: "Why did you come back?" His response: "I don't want to give up my country or betray it. If your convictions mean something, you must be prepared to stand up for them and make sacrifices if necessary."

Navalny's narrative captures not only the loneliness and adversities of his imprisonment but also his characteristic humor. He humorously recounts a wager with his lawyers regarding the expected length of a new prison term. "Olga reckoned 11 to 15 years. Vadim surprised everyone with his prediction of precisely 12 years and six months. I guessed seven to eight years and was the winner," he wrote.

According to a statement by Navalny's widow, Yulia Navalnaya, issued in April by the publisher Alfred A. Knopf, the book serves as a testament to Navalny's life and "unwavering commitment to the fight against dictatorship." She expressed hope that the memoir, which has been translated into 11 languages and will also be available in Russian, will inspire others to uphold their principles and values.