We are remembering Alexei Navalny as news breaks about his official cause of death.
Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition leader, was killed by dart frog poison administered by the Russian state two years ago, a multi-intelligence agency inquiry has found, according to a statement released by five countries, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. [Adam Goldsmith; Tom McArthur (14 February 2026). “Russia killed opposition leader Alexei Navalny using dart frog toxin, UK says”. BBC News.] Alexei Navalny died as a political prisoner in a Siberian penal colony on February 16, 2024.
Journeys in Film had the privilege of creating teaching resources for Oscar-winning documentary Navalny which chronicles Alexei Navalny’s life. Navalny speaks to a world transformed by Russia, its war in Ukraine, and the growing and treacherous threat of authoritarianism around the world.
Our Navalny Learning Guide and our Navalny Discussion Guide, like all of our education resources, are available to the public for free. Educators and community groups may find these materials helpful to accompany viewings of the film as you remember Alexei Navalny and discuss current events.
As Putin’s brand of authoritarianism wreaks havoc on the world, the urgency of the message of Navalny is more critical than ever. The film is not just the story of Alexei Navalny and Russia, but a rallying cry to remind the world of the importance of free speech and a free press to counter dictatorship and uphold democracy. “Evil is only able to proliferate if good people do nothing, so don’t be inactive,” Navalny warns at the end of the film.
Our hearts go out to the Navalny family and their loved ones yet again in light of today’s news.
Related Resources
- Navalny Documentary Discussion Guide and Learning Guide
- Civics and Civic Engagement Lessons
- Media Literacy and Journalism Lessons
- Oscar-Winning Films Teaching Resources at Journeys in Film
- Political Corruption Teaching Resources
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