The fiercest political opponent of Vladimir Putin understood he might never leave prison alive
Each morning at 5am, Alexei Navalny was roused with the words “Wake up!” as the Russian national anthem played on the prison loudspeakers. It was always dark in the polar night above the Arctic Circle, and the temperature outside could fall below -30C (-22F). The convict would have a sheepskin coat and an ushanka hat to keep warm in a prison colony better known by its nickname: the Polar Wolf.
Then, a second song began: I am Russian – a nationalistic anthem by the pro-Kremlin pop star Shaman that has become a favourite at patriotic rallies.
