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Letters | Alexei Navalny’s death highlights Putin’s insecurity
- Readers discuss the death of a Russian opposition leader, and why China can play a role in preserving world peace
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The death of the 47-year-old Alexei Navalny in an Arctic prison colony shows that Russian President Vladimir Putin “and his thugs”, as US President Joe Biden called them, don’t trust the patriotism and ideals of the best of the younger generation. Senior leaders should realise that there are other viewpoints which may lead to greater prosperity and growth for their nation.
Putin reached maturity under an autocratic system and he may have difficulty in seeing a different route to prosperity for his country. In addition, there is a natural tendency for autocrats to want to retain power along with the wealth-generating opportunities it offers.
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Russia could still become a peaceful and prosperous true democracy but the means of doing so seem to be beyond Putin’s imagination or self-interest.
Bruce Couchman, Ottawa, Canada
On Ukraine, China and the US can work together for peace
The war in Ukraine broke out in February 2022 when Ukraine’s leader wanted to join Nato against the wishes of Russia’s leader. Two years later, there is no end in sight to the war. Has anybody thought about the effect of the war on the Ukrainian people, and the environment?
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