• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster

1

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year

2

As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch

3

Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
alexei navalny

Putin’s biggest political rival reacts to 9-year jail sentence with his favorite quote from ‘The Wire’

Sophie Mellor
By
Sophie Mellor
Sophie Mellor
Down Arrow Button Icon
Sophie Mellor
By
Sophie Mellor
Sophie Mellor
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 22, 2022, 12:55 PM ET
New Trial Against Kremlin Critic Alexei Navalny Starts
Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, was sentenced to nine more years in prison, and in his usual calm and unfazed style, he tweeted out this quote Avon Randolph Barksdale character from Nalvalny’s favority show, HBO’s The Wire.Mikhail Svetlov—Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

“You only do two days. That’s the day you go in and the day you come out”

Jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny was sentenced to nine more years in prison, and in his usual calm and unfazed style, tweeted this quote from his favorite television show, HBO’s critically acclaimed The Wire.

Navalny added in the post that he liked The Wire quote so much he even had a T-shirt printed with the slogan, but that was confiscated, with prison authorities claiming the print was “extremist.”

The nine-year sentence for fraud and contempt comes after Navalny has already spent one year in the IK-2 prison in Pokrov, 62 miles outside Moscow.

Vladimir Putin’s most prominent critic had been serving a two-and-a-half-year sentence handed down on Feb. 2 2021 for parole violation, which Navalny says was fabricated to thwart his political ambitions.

The anti-corruption activist urged his supporter to continue to show their opposition to the Russian government.

In a 10-tweet thread on Twitter, which also referenced the time-loss experienced by Matthew McConaughey’s character in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, Nalvalny wrote: “I want to say: the best support for me and other political prisoners is not sympathy and kind words, but actions.

“Any activity against the deceitful and thievish Putin’s regime. Any opposition to these war criminals.”

7/10 Fighting against censorship and bringing the truth to the people of Russia has remained our priority. The Kremlin smashes the media, and in response we create new ones.

— Alexey Navalny (@navalny) March 22, 2022

Poisoned critic

Navalny was first jailed after he returned from Germany last year, where he was being given emergency medical treatment from a Soviet-era nerve toxin poison that was administered right before he left on a flight from Siberia to Moscow.

When he returned to Moscow, he was immediately arrested, but not before releasing a two hour long documentary called Putin’s Palace. History of World’s Largest Bribe, detailing corruption schemes for the construction of the $1.35 billion palace allegedly owned by Putin.

While in prison, Navalny and human rights groups have accused Russian authorities of using torture against him and Amnesty International recognized him as a prisoner of conscience.

As he entered the hearing today at the prison colony of Pokrov, a gaunt looking Nalvalny reportedly looked unfazed as he flipped through court documents as judge Margarita Kotova read out the charges.

The trial was held in the prison itself—a move officials explained was a COVID-19 safety measure, but Navalny noted was designed to limit news about the trial leaking out.

Journalists were not allowed to make any recordings in the courtroom and watched the sentencing from a live video feed.

Russian authorities have branded Navalny and his supporters as subversives, who are attacking the Kremlin to destabilize Russia with backing from the West.

Navalny’s opposition movement has been labelled as “extremist” and shut down, although supporters who have remained in Russia despite the threat of imprisonment have continued to express their political stance on social media.

After the verdict, his wife Yulia posted on Instagram: “The figure 9 means absolutely nothing. I love you, my dearest person in the world, and I’ve never stopped being proud of you all these many, many years.”

Navalny reiterated the sentiments, calling the added years in detention “just a sign above my bunk, that’s all. The numbers don’t matter.”

After his arrest, his lawyers and supporters also launched the Anti-Corruption Foundation looking to create a global organization to oppose his arrest.

Alexei was given 9 years of strict regime. We will do our best to get him released as soon as possible. And right now we are announcing that we are taking our activities to the international level. We are launching a global Anti-Corruption Foundation https://t.co/3ifmQIBrkM

— Кира Ярмыш (@Kira_Yarmysh) March 22, 2022
Never miss a story: Follow your favorite topics and authors to get a personalized email with the journalism that matters most to you.
About the Author
Sophie Mellor
By Sophie Mellor
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in International

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Most Popular

MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
Success
MacKenzie Scott alone accounted for one-third of America's $19.2 billion in megagifts last year
By Sydney LakeJune 25, 2026
6 days ago
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
Big Tech
As Big Tech showers employees with perks to win the talent war, Nvidia built a nearly $5 trillion company by making people pay for their own lunch
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 1, 2026
12 hours ago
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
Success
Philanthropy leader at Warren Buffett and Bill Gates’ Giving Pledge says children of billionaires are pushing them to give their wealth away faster
By Preston ForeJune 27, 2026
4 days ago
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
Success
Elon Musk on MacKenzie Scott giving away $26 billion of her fortune: 'Sadly,' it makes the world a worse place
By Sydney LakeJune 29, 2026
2 days ago
The Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling hands the U.S. economy a $7.7 trillion win
Newsletters
The Supreme Court's birthright citizenship ruling hands the U.S. economy a $7.7 trillion win
By Diane BradyJuly 1, 2026
10 hours ago
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
Commentary
The U.S. Army is opening military bases to private billions — here's why that changes everything for the next 250 years
By Marc AndersenJune 30, 2026
1 day ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.