The Return of Alexei Navalny

Alexei Navalny – a leading Russian opposition figure – was detained on his return to Russia on Sunday 17 January, following treatment in Berlin for poisoning. An investigation by Bellingcat provided evidence that Navalny was poisoned in Tomsk, Russia, with a nerve agent of the Novichok group by the Federal Security Service (FSB).

The day after Navalny returned to Russia, a judge ordered that he be held in custody until 15 February, given the Federal Penitentiary Service's claim that he violated parole conditions (following a suspended sentence handed down to him in 2014) while in Germany. A court hearing is scheduled for 2 February that should make clear whether he will be sent to prison. Navalny's supporters have called for mass street protests on Saturday 23 January.

This panel discussion as part of the SSEESing Now series, will discuss the reasons for Navalny's return, his treatment by the authorities, what we can expect going forward, and what this all tells us about Russian politics and society.

Panellists:

Clara Ferreira Marques – Bloomberg Opinion columnist

Mark Galeotti – Honorary Professor, UCL SSEES, and Senior Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)

Ekaterina Schulmann – Associate Professor at the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences (MSSES), and Associate Fellow, Chatham House

Ben Noble – chair – Lecturer in Russian Politics, UCL SSEES, and Associate Fellow, Chatham House