Jailed Russian activist Yashin to keep 鈥榝ighting tyranny鈥� after Navalny death

Russian opposition activist and former municipal deputy of the Krasnoselsky district Ilya Yashin gestures, smiling, as he stands in a defendant's cubicle in a courtroom, prior to a hearing in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 9, 2022. (AP)
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  • Yashin was jailed for eight and a half years in December 2022, for spreading 鈥渇alse鈥� information about the Russian army, under legislation criminalizing criticism of the Ukraine offensive

MOSCOW: Jailed Russian opposition politician Ilya Yashin vowed on Tuesday to continue fighting for democracy in Russia after learning his friend and colleague, Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, had died in prison.
The death of President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 top enemy last week triggered a flurry of outrage and raised fears for Navalny allies and other Kremlin critics imprisoned in Russia.
鈥淎s long as my heart beats in my chest, I will fight tyranny. As long as I live, I will fear no evil,鈥� Yashin said in a post on social media, communicated through his lawyer.
Yashin was jailed for eight and a half years in December 2022, for spreading 鈥渇alse鈥� information about the Russian army, under legislation criminalizing criticism of the Ukraine offensive.
鈥淥f course, I understand the risks I face. I鈥檓 behind bars. My life is in Putin鈥檚 hands and it鈥檚 in danger,鈥� he said.
Yashin was an ally of Navalny鈥檚 and close to Boris Nemtsov, another opposition politician who was killed near the Kremlin in 2015.
鈥淲e shared a common cause and dedicated our lives to making Russia peaceful, free and happy. Now both my friends are dead,鈥� Yashin said.
He said he learned the news of Navalny鈥檚 death in his prison near Smolensk in western Russia and 鈥� like much of the opposition 鈥� laid blame on the Kremlin.
鈥淚n Putin鈥檚 understanding, this is how power is asserted 鈥� through murder, cruelty and demonstrative revenge,鈥� he said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov refused to say how Putin 鈥� who has not commented on the death 鈥� reacted to his main opponent dying.
Peskov also said an investigation into Navalny鈥檚 death was ongoing and its findings were yet to be released.