Navalny has a reputation as a smokescreen for his own legal problems

Trump coopts Navalny’s legacy as a smokescreen for his own legal morass. Navalny died a political martyr after returning home to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin's brutal rule. Trump suggests false equivalence with his own troubles with Navalny's legal troubles.

Alexey Navalny’s mother has been officially notified of his death, his spokesperson says. Navalny's body should be handed over to his family ‘immediately,’ his spokesperson Kira Yarmysh said Saturday. The opposition leader's mother was notified of the death, she said.

Alexey Navalny failed to appear at latest court hearing on Monday, raising concerns about his well-being. Navalny's team lost contact with him 10 days ago after he failed to show up at another court hearing. He has been jailed for 10 months and is being held in a Russian prison.

While he was alive, Navalny's vision that Russia will eventually revert to a freer more open future seemed more plausible. Without him it is harder to imagine Russia ever recovering from the ordeal imposed by Putin. The interview is a damning indictment from beyond the grave. Without Navalny it is impossible to imagine the ordeal of Putin imposed by his government.