Is widow Yulia Navalnaya the new face of Russian opposition?

Navalnaya, Moscow-born and an economist by training, married Navalny in 2000, and the couple has a daughter, Daria, who reportedly attended California’s Stanford University, and a son, Zakhar.

Throughout Navalny’s bold and dramatic political career, his wife stayed largely in the background, shunning the spotlight and deferring to her husband. Her main mission, she said, was to support Alexei and protect the children from unkind prying eyes and potential dangers.

Still, Navalnaya, 47, was seen as her husband’s rock, an important source of his strength and determination. Their public shows of affection are rare among Russian politicians, who often sideline women.

One unforgettable public appearance was in a Russian courtroom in 2022. Navalny was in the prisoner’s cage. He gestured at Navalnaya, in the audience, forming a heart shape with his hands. It was one of the last times they saw each other in person.