Australia’s envoy to Russia honours Vladimir Putin critic one year after death

Australia’s ambassador to Russia has made a bold move, leaving no one in any doubt his thoughts about Vladimir Putin and a very touchy subject.

Australia’s ambassador to Russia has laid flowers at Alexei Navalny’s grave to mark one year since the Vladimir Putin critic’s mysterious death.

Mr Navalny was a global symbol of resistance to Vladimir Putin’s presidency and had been incarcerated since 2021 on trumped-up charges.

Late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was partially blinded when he was splashed with green paint in 2017. Picture: Evgeny Feldman

He was being held in Russia’s notorious IK-3 penal colony – a maximum security labour camp in the Arctic Circle – when he “felt unwell after a walk” and “almost immediately” fell unconscious, according to Russia’s prison service.

Many world leaders have blamed the Russian President, to whom Mr Navalny was a dangerous thorn in his side, undermining his decades-long grasp on power.

The Kremlin has rejected the charge.

Mr Navalny was being held in a notorious Russian labour camp in the Arctic Circle when he died mysteriously. Picture: Alexander Nemenov / AFP

“Today, one year after the death of Alexei Navalny, I laid flowers at his grave in Moscow,” Australian ambassador John Geering posted on social media.

“We honour his commitment to democracy and fight against injustice in Russia.

“Australia holds the Russian government solely responsible for his death in prison.”

Today, one year after the death of Alexei #Navalny, I laid flowers at his grave in Moscow. We honour his commitment to democracy and fight against injustice in Russia. Australia holds the Russian Government solely responsible for his death in prison. pic.twitter.com/UxIk7JMFxi

— John Geering (@PosolAustralia) February 16, 2025

Australia also joined 17 other countries, including New Zealand and the UK, in condemning “Russia’s dire human rights record”.

“The Kremlin crushes peaceful dissent, maintains a climate of fear and undermines the rule of law. All to serve its own interests,” the countries said in a joint statement.

“As we reflect on Navalny’s enduring legacy, we continue to stand with civil society and human rights defenders working tirelessly to build a better future for Russia in the face of immense personal risk.”

Australia's ambassador to Russia John Geering has laid flowers at Mr Navalny’s grave. Picture: Australian Embassy in Russia

Rights groups have said there are as many as 1500 political prisoners in Russia, often incarcerated for convictions under ill-defined laws, such as discrediting the Russian armed forces.

As Australia’s envoy in Moscow, Mr Geering is central to Canberra’s efforts to secure the release of Melbourne-born POW Oscar Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins was fighting with the Ukrainian military when he was captured by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

Russian officials confirmed Mr Jenkins was alive last month after weeks of speculation.

Though, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Originally published as Australia’s envoy to Russia honours Vladimir Putin critic one year after death