“I knew from the outset that I would be imprisoned for life — either the rest of my life or until the end of the life of this regime,” Alexei Navalny wrote in his diary in March 2022. “I will spend the rest of my life in prison and die here.”
These lines appear in “Patriot,” a posthumous memoir by Alexei Navalny that came out October 24th, eight months after his death. The powerful and moving memoir of a fearless political opposition leader who paid the ultimate price for his beliefs was pieced together after his death with the help of Yulia Navalnaya, his widow. The book’s first sentence, referring to an earlier failed assassination attempt, now feels brutally prescient: “Dying really didn’t hurt,” Alexei Navalny wrote.
Alexei Navalny’s memoir details isolation and suffering in a Russian prison — and how he never lost hope.
This is Alexei Navalny’s life in his own words: his Soviet childhood, political awakening, his marriage and beloved family, his total commitment to taking on a corrupt regime and his enduring love of Russia and its people.
We witness the growth of his nationwide support.
We see his many arrests and harassment and the attempt on his life.
We understand why he felt he had to return to Russia.
In prison, he shows a spirit and a sense of humour that cannot be crushed.
Alexei Navalny’s 2020 poisoning by the Russian security services was a global news event. In 2024 he died in a brutal Siberian prison. He began writing “Patriot” whilst recovering from his poisoning; it ends with his prison diaries, seen here for the first time.
“Patriot” is Alexei Navalny’s final letter to the world, a rousing call to continue his work, an unforgettably positive account of a life that will inspire every reader.
“This book is a testament not only to Alexei’s life, but to his unwavering commitment to the fight against dictatorship—a fight he gave everything for, including his life. Through its pages, readers will come to know the man I loved deeply—a man of profound integrity and unyielding courage. Sharing his story will not only honor his memory but also inspire others to stand up for what is right and to never lose sight of the values that truly matter.” —Yulia Navalnaya.