This archive report was first published on 25 August 2021.
As the world grapples with the ongoing crisis in Russia, Aleksei Navalny has spoken out against the West's current approach to sanctions. In a recent interview, he argued that sanctions should be tailored to target those who have profited from corruption and repression, rather than the Russian people as a whole.
Navalny emphasized that the current sanctions have largely spared the oligarchs and businessmen who have ties to President Putin's regime. He pointed out that the yachts, airplanes, and billions in Western banks that belong to these individuals remain untouched.
Navalny called on the leaders of the West, particularly President Biden, to take decisive action against corruption. He urged them to stop referring to Putin's oligarchs as 'businessmen,' and instead to recognize them for what they are: corrupt and complicit individuals who have enriched themselves at the expense of the Russian people.
Navalny also praised the efforts of legislatures in the US and Europe who have taken a strong stance against corruption. He noted that declarations from the anti-corruption caucus in the US Congress and the European Parliament have been clear and firm in their calls for targeted sanctions against oligarchs.
Navalny's message is clear: targeted sanctions against oligarchs and evildoers would be a powerful statement of support for the Russian people and a blow against corruption. He believes that such actions would be widely welcomed by ordinary Russians and would demonstrate that the West is not hypocritical in its dealings with Russia.
