Navalny on Oscar win: this is for ‘honest and courageous people across the world’

Russian opposition politician Alexey Navalny has commented on the documentary about his poisoning and return to Russia winning an Oscar.

“As usual, the cell radio turned on at 5:00 a.m. At 6:00, they had the first news block of the day: they spoke in detail about all the winners of the Academy Awards, except for Best Documentary. I thought that was a good sign. <…> Finally, let me reiterate: this is not my movie, I didn’t win the Oscar, and I’m not in a position to dedicate this award to anyone.

Navalny tweeted.

Navalny, a documentary centred around the poisoning of the jailed Russian opposition politician, won an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature during the 95th Oscars ceremony held in Los Angeles. Canadian director Daniel Roher and Navalny’s family — wife Yulia, daughter Daria, and son Zakhar — accepted the award together. They were joined by Bellingcat’s Christo Grozev and head of the investigative unit of the Anti-Corruption Foundation Maria Pevchikh.

“My husband is in prison just for telling the truth. My husband is in prison just for defending democracy. Alexey, I’m dreaming [of] the day you will be free and our country will be free. Stay strong, my love,” Navalny’s wife Yulia said while accepting the award.

The film shares Navalny’s story: his poisoning in August 2020, how he tracked down the perpetrators, and his return to Russia in January 2021, with him being immediately detained in the airport. Navalny has been imprisoned for over two years.