Patriot

Patriot opens with a critical incident experienced by the narrator, Alexei Navalny, a prominent Russian opposition leader, during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow, Russia, in August 2020. Navalny begins by reflecting on his political work in Siberia, where he and his team from the Anti-Corruption Foundation (ACF) were preparing for regional elections in his “authoritarian” home country (6). Despite being banned from running for office and facing constant government repression, they aimed to weaken the ruling United Russia Party by exposing corruption through investigative videos posted on YouTube. These videos, watched by millions, showcased the luxurious lifestyles of government officials, contrasting them with the poverty experienced by ordinary Russians.

Navalny recounts the systematic efforts by the Russian state to impede his political activities. His political party had been repeatedly denied registration, and numerous fabricated criminal charges were levied against him to restrict his movements. Despite these obstacles, Navalny and his team conducted investigations, gathered evidence, and produced compelling videos designed to mobilize voters against Putin’s regime. Their work often triggered aggressive state responses, including raids on ACF offices and the confiscation of equipment.

The narrative then shifts to the morning of August 20, 2020.