Demand for withdrawal of international legitimacy for Putin

Amidst the political climate surrounding the upcoming presidential election in Russia, opposition politician Yulia Navalnaya, widow of the imprisoned and deceased critic of the regime Alexei Navalny, has made a pointed appeal to the international community. In an op-ed in 'The Washington Post', she advocates against legitimizing another term for Vladimir Putin as the President of Russia. Navanaja sharply criticizes the perception of Putin that is widely prevalent in the West, which, in her view, wrongfully considers him a legitimate political leader. Yulia Navalnaya calls for a radical rethinking in dealings with Putin, in order to derive appropriate political measures from it. In her article, she bluntly refers to the Kremlin leader as a 'gangster' and explains that this perspective accounts for his tendency towards brutality, ostentation, and deadly violence. She argues that the status and therefore the international recognition of a mafia boss is of central significance. Consequently, after the election, this recognition should be withheld to exert pressure on Putin and his inner circle. Moreover, Navalnaya believes that Western states, by offering comprehensive support to Ukraine, have taken a clear moral stance against Putin’s unjustified aggression. However, she highlights that even a military defeat would not guarantee the overthrow of an authoritarian ruler. Therefore, she emphasizes the importance of supporting movements critical of the government within Russia. These movements have a broad base, as seen by the large turnout of mourners in Moscow for her husband’s death. The 47-year-old Navalnaya aims to continue advancing the political work of her deceased husband. Vladimir Putin is aiming for another six-year term in the upcoming elections. In this election, he faces no serious contenders, which seems to ensure Russia's continuity after almost 25 years of his rule.