The Ironic Protagonist: Believers and Betrayers

I’m here reading Navalny's ‘Patriot’ – and for some reason, I suddenly want to mash it up with Catherine Belton’s ‘Putin’s People’ bestseller (including Mikhail Fishman's ‘Successor’ and Ilya Zhegulev's ‘The Tsar's Move’, throw in a few Mikhail Zygar books) for good measure, and just binge-watch a series about this entire tangled mess: a political drama (inspired by "The Crown," "House of Cards," and "Boss") that weaves together a narrative of contemporary Russia using these six-seven books as source material, context and details:?

• based on ‘Patriot’ by Alexei Navalny & ‘Putin’s People’ by Catherine Belton bestsellers; characters, details, episodes based on: ‘Successor’ by Mikhail Fishman, ‘The Tsar’s Move’ by Ilya Zhegulev, 'War and Punishment: The Story of Russian Oppression and Ukrainian Resistance' by Mikhail Zygar, ‘All the Kremlin’s Men’ by Mikhail Zygar, Михаил Зыгарь “Все свободны”

A "Crown," "House of Cards," and "Boss"-style series that dramatizes the political landscape of modern Russia, focusing on the rise of Vladimir Putin and the opposition against him, primarily through the lens of Alexei Navalny.

This concept reimagines the political drama of Russia’s modern history, centering on Navalny as a dynamic, ironic protagonist navigating a complex tapestry of allies, adversaries, and reluctant anti-heroes. The series could be crafted as a satirical, sharply ironic saga reflecting Russia's unrealized utopia – "Beautiful Russia of the Future".

Based on these six-seven books, we could craft a comprehensive narrative that presents an interwoven analysis of Russia's socio-political landscape through the lens of Navalny’s memoir "Patriot":

1. Introduction: Navalny's Last Testament as a Reflection of Modern Russia. Drawing from "Patriot" as a posthumous memoir, the story could frame Navalny's life and activism as a culmination of the themes explored in the other six books. This opening line would explore how Navalny’s perspective and his untimely death crystallize the ongoing power struggles, personal sacrifices, and ideological divides within Russia.
2. Power and Influence in the Kremlin: The Roots of Authoritarianism. Using Catherine Belton’s "Putin's People," and Zygar’s "All the Kremlin’s Men," we can highlight how individuals and factions shape policy and narrative in the Kremlin, setting a foundation for the closed-circle power struggles that have defined Putin’s regime. This part could explore how Navalny’s direct confrontation with the Kremlin disrupted these dynamics and exposed the fragility within Putin’s alliances, particularly regarding issues of corruption and governance.
3. Navalny and the Rise of Opposition: The Human Cost of Dissent. Referencing Ilya Zhegulev's "The Tsar's Move" and Zygar’s "War and Punishment," we could examine how Navalny's imprisonment and eventual death serve as a stark reminder of the lengths to which the Kremlin will go to suppress dissent. This angle would analyze Navalny’s prison diaries as a form of resistance, with his words amplifying his ongoing impact despite his physical absence.
4. Narratives of Resistance and Repression: Russia’s Enduring Duality. Zygary's "The Free People," along with Fishman’s examination of Boris Nemtsov in "The Successor," can be used to draw parallels between past and present resistance figures, underscoring how opposition leaders like Navalny continue to symbolize both hope and martyrdom in Russian society. Here, we might also delve into how opposition voices have historically oscillated between calls for reform and instances of tragic downfall, reflecting a recurring cycle of hope and repression.
5. The Kremlin’s Propaganda Machine: Manipulating the National Psyche. With references to Zygar’s insights on how Russia has managed its image both internally and globally, this section would address the systemic control over information and public perception under Putin. We could also integrate "Putin's People" here to showcase the international dimension of Russia’s media and power strategies. This line would explain how Navalny’s use of digital media became an unprecedented challenge to the Kremlin’s control over narrative, further intensifying the regime’s reaction against him.
6. The Legacy of Patriotism and Martyrdom. We would reflect on how Navalny’s "Patriot" can be seen not just as a memoir but as a manifesto for future generations. His message of resilience and his enduring influence might be compared to the legacies of other Russian opposition leaders, as chronicled in these books. To speculate on how the publication of "Patriot" might still reach audiences, inspiring them to question and potentially act against the status quo.

This story could serve as both an homage to Navalny’s life and a critique of the forces that shaped and eventually quelled his activism, offering you an intricate view of Russia’s socio-political climate from a multi-narrative perspective.?

1. Opening Episode: “Beautiful Russia of the Future”

• Main Character Focus: Navalny—The Idealist with Irony
• Supporting Cast Cameos: Putin, Yeltsin (in flashbacks), young Nemtsov, and childhood glimpses of Navalny in a nation at ideological crossroads.
• Tone and Style: The episode opens with a satirical narrative of Russia’s transition from Yeltsin’s fractured democracy to Putin’s iron-fisted grip, as seen through the eyes of a young Navalny—who questions the adults’ compromises and mishaps with a deadpan, “Beautiful Russia’s future must be quite lost.” His story arcs from youth to activism, using Navalny’s signature sarcasm to juxtapose his ideals against Russia’s fraught reality.

2. Nemtsov’s Russia: The Successor That Never Was

• Main Character Focus: Nemtsov—The Optimist Cut Short
• Role in Navalny’s Worldview: A fallen hero, representing what Russia could have been.
• Plotline: This episode portrays Nemtsov in Fishman’s view—a visionary with both the drive and charisma to have led Russia down a democratic path if only the stars (or Yeltsin’s capricious health) had aligned. Through flashbacks and conversations, Nemtsov’s optimism and eventual disenchantment lay the moral groundwork for Navalny’s defiance, foreshadowing the danger of challenging Putin and the tragic end awaiting those who try.
• Tone: Emotional and nostalgic, with the biting irony that an idealist like Nemtsov was sidelined by fate, while Putin, cautious and ruthless, claimed the reins.

3. Yumashev and the Lost Legacy of Yeltsin’s Oligarchs

• Main Character Focus: Yumashev—The Pragmatist Compromised
• Role in Navalny’s Story: A cautionary figure showing how compromise erodes ambition.
• Plotline: Yumashev, the archetype of the well-meaning insider, represents the remnants of Yeltsin’s era and the oligarchs’ miscalculated gambles. With insights from Zhegulev’s book, this episode unpacks how Yumashev and figures like Berezovsky and Khodorkovsky shaped an oligarchic class, only to lose their grip to Putin’s tight circle. Navalny watches this legacy from afar, learning that bending principles can leave even the most powerful figures vulnerable.
• Tone: Sarcastic and satirical, exposing Yumashev’s attempts to “do good” as well-intentioned blunders, often sidetracked by self-interest or lack of foresight, contrasting him sharply with Navalny’s determined moral stance.

4. The West and Putin: Belton’s ‘Sambo Game of Power’

• Main Character Focus: Putin—The Strategist Who Reaps Western Indecision
• Role in Navalny’s Story: A persistent adversary using Western indecision as leverage.
• Plotline: Using Belton’s perspective, this episode reinterprets Putin not as a supervillain but as a savvy opportunist who masters “political sambo,” using Western leaders’ hesitation to his advantage. Here, Navalny critiques the West’s wavering support, questioning how he could lead an opposition if global leaders themselves play by Putin’s rules.
• Tone: Darkly ironic, Navalny’s commentary critiques the West’s disunity and moral weakness, acknowledging that Putin’s rise isn’t just a result of Russian strength but of Western fragility.

5. Navalny’s Utopian Vision: Beautiful Russia’s Chief Believer

• Main Character Focus: Navalny—The Defiant Optimist
• Supporting Cast: A coalition of fragmented opposition figures, from Tikhanovskaya to Zelensky (a symbol of what resistance can look like).
• Plotline: This episode shows Navalny at his peak, a believer who envisions a “beautiful Russia” despite the growing risks. Drawing from his book "Patriot" and his prison diary, Navalny’s words reflect a vision of an alternative Russia. Meanwhile, Zelensky’s defiance and Tikhanovskaya’s tenacity underscore Navalny’s resolve and frustration at his own country’s disjointed opposition. He sees Ukraine’s unity and yearns for a Russian opposition with similar resolve.
• Tone: Hopeful yet sardonic, balancing humor with a glimpse into Navalny’s internal struggle and his conviction that Russia deserves better, even as he’s persecuted by the system he hopes to change.

6. The Legacy of Patriotism and Broken Dreams

• Main Character Focus: Navalny’s Spirit as a Symbol
• Plotline: In a haunting finale, Navalny’s utopian vision appears as a fragile dream—yet one that cannot be silenced, even in the bleak confines of his cell. “Patriot” becomes a spiritual manifesto for Russia’s future, with his words inspiring a reluctant generation to imagine change. His image lingers as the beacon of hope for “Beautiful Russia,” prompting viewers to ponder: Will Russia seize its lost chance, or will it remain entrapped in compromise and silence?
• Tone: Somber, but with lingering hope, Navalny’s “utopia” is framed not as an unreachable dream but as a blueprint for future reform, leaving an indelible mark that challenges both Russian and global audiences.

This structure captures your vision, blending sarcasm and irony with drama, satire, and ultimately, a hopeful yet haunting vision for Russia’s future, driven by Navalny as both protagonist and enduring symbol.?

New Political Imagination and Utopia for Realists

Incorporating a Ukrainian storyline into the series would add powerful resonance, given the historical and personal connections of Navalny and Nemtsov to Ukraine.?

I.Navalny’s Ukrainian Roots

• Backdrop: The storyline opens with scenes of Navalny’s childhood summers in Ukraine, showing his familial roots in the Kyiv region and the lasting impact of the Chernobyl disaster on his family. These scenes would underscore Navalny’s deep-rooted connection to Ukraine, blending early memories with later moments in his activism where he reflects on the devastation of corruption and neglect.
• Emotional Undertone: These early glimpses illustrate Navalny’s deep-seated empathy and commitment to change, showing how his personal history and family’s displacement shaped his critical stance on government irresponsibility.

II.Zelensky and Navalny: A Tale of Parallels and Contrasts

• Character Contrast: Zelensky, also born in Soviet Ukraine but raised in Russia, brings a contrasting yet resonant figure to Navalny. Zelensky’s background as a comedian-turned-president and Navalny’s humor and wit in opposition make them kindred spirits in resilience and sharp social critique. This connection could be explored through a brief personal or symbolic encounter, underscoring their shared determination despite starkly different paths.
• Scenes with Zelensky: As Zelensky grows into his role as Ukraine’s wartime leader, Navalny’s admiration for Ukraine’s democratic strides would be shown through reflections or conversations, bringing out his belief in shared values of resilience and freedom.

III.Nemtsov’s Influence and Time in Kyiv

• Historical Flashbacks: Flashbacks to Nemtsov’s time in Kyiv during Ukraine’s Orange Revolution reveal his admiration for Ukraine’s struggle for democracy. These scenes deepen the character of Nemtsov as Russia’s lost potential, linking his optimism to Navalny’s conviction for change in Russia.
• Nemtsov’s Impact on Navalny: This storyline portrays Nemtsov’s legacy as a blueprint for democratic ideals, ultimately inspiring Navalny to persist, even as Putin solidifies his authoritarian grip in response to democratic movements nearby.

IV.Putin’s Turning Point Post-Orange Revolution

• The Turning Point: Flashbacks to Putin’s KGB years in Germany (as portrayed in Belton’s work) and his growing fear of democratic uprisings offer insights into his authoritarian pivot. His decision to tighten control after witnessing Ukraine’s democratic wave—alongside Nemtsov’s presence in Kyiv—serves as a crucial turning point in the series, highlighting how Ukraine’s transformation shaped Russia’s leadership choices.
• Strategic Paranoia: These scenes show Putin’s resolve to stifle any similar shift within Russia, positioning Ukraine as the battleground of Russia’s ideological fears and ambitions.

This Ukrainian storyline would bring added emotional weight and geopolitical relevance, underscoring the theme of personal and national identities amidst political oppression.

• Interwoven Narratives: The story of Ukraine would be threaded throughout the series, tying Navalny and Nemtsov, including Zelensky’s arcs together with historical depth and personal stakes.
• Dual Perspective on Ukraine: While Ukraine represents hope and resilience for characters like Navalny and Nemtsov, it symbolizes a threat to Putin, setting up a stark ideological contrast that the series would explore in nuanced dialogues and reflective scenes.
• Visual Motif: Scenes in Ukraine are portrayed with vibrant colors, reflecting the hopeful, grassroots movement for change, contrasting with the dimly lit Kremlin scenes, underscoring the themes of resistance versus control.

Digital Resistance and Legacy of Anti-Corruption

Navalny Card Project as a Symbol of Anti-Corruption

• The Navalny Card: This subplot brings in the Navalny Card project—a financial venture supporting Navalny’s anti-corruption efforts that received significant interest but faced shutdown due to political pressure. This minor storyline exemplifies Navalny’s ability to engage the public in activism, cleverly linking civic resistance with personal empowerment.
• Symbolic Appeal: The Navalny Card serves as a metaphor for accessible democracy and transparency, representing a hopeful yet obstructed attempt to channel financial systems against corruption, much like the idealistic but thwarted political reforms in Russia and Ukraine.

This expanded plot brings a powerful, visionary arc to Navalny’s legacy, where the “Navalny Card” becomes not just an anti-corruption tool but a symbolic foundation for a radical reimagining of identity, sovereignty, and resistance.

1. Into the Past: Putin’s Shadow Banking Legacy

• Backdrop: Flashbacks to 1980s Dresden reveal a young Putin, then a KGB officer, orchestrating financial networks that funnel funds for Soviet ambitions. Under the guidance of the Stasi, Putin learns the power of money laundering, manipulation, and the “shadow banking” system that would later underpin many of Russia’s opaque financial schemes.
• Contrast to Navalny: Decades later, Navalny emerges with the “Navalny Card,” a stark antithesis to Putin’s underworld finance. This KYC-first card stands as an instrument of transparency, prioritizing reputation and integrity over profit—a product not for financial gain but for communal integrity. Navalny’s use of open-source data and OSINT techniques to conduct anti-money laundering (AML) investigations resonates with a younger, digital-savvy Russia.
• Tone: Sharp irony runs through these scenes, as Navalny’s clean banking model contrasts with Putin’s clandestine systems. Navalny’s campaign against oligarchs and corrupt officials subtly targets Putin’s formative experiences in Dresden, almost as if Navalny were dismantling the very structures that Putin helped construct.

2. Into the Future: The Digital Nansen Passport and a metastate of Values

• The “Navalny Card”* Evolution: With state repression closing in, Navalny reinvents the project as a digital “Nansen passport” for Russian and Belarusian exiles. This modernized version, developed in partnership with Zelensky and Tikhanovskaya, allows diaspora communities to reclaim a sense of identity and civic belonging outside authoritarian boundaries. It becomes a passport for those who’ve been forced to leave, symbolizing not just citizenship but resistance.
• Global Election Movement: Navalny initiates plans with exiled Russian and Belarusian leaders to hold elections abroad, declaring Putin’s regime illegitimate and advocating for unification with Ukraine. This coalition, supported by powerful allies like Vitalik Buterin, Pavel Durov, and Balaji Srinivasan, pioneers a form of self-governance through digital means, funding these “meta-elections” as a show of unity and defiance.
• Resolution Theory: Putin, realizing the seismic shift caused by this election and the migration of millions of talented Russians, is unnerved. Despite his territorial gains, he faces a demographic drain that deprives Russia of intellectual capital and innovation. Terrified that this movement might create a global political force he can’t control, Putin orders Navalny’s assassination in prison. Navalny’s death is an attempt to kill the dream of a free, federative “metastate” where Russians, Belarusians, and Ukrainians align on values rather than borders.

3. Finale: The Rise of a metastate and Navalny’s Enduring Vision

• Setting: In the series finale, this plot thread takes a visionary turn. Ukraine transforms into a federative, metastate, embracing diverse communities and diaspora movements with rights to self-determination. It becomes a pioneering entity that unites people globally who share democratic values, surpassing traditional notions of nationality.
• Epilogue Tone: The closing scenes oscillate between hope and tragedy. Navalny’s digital legacy—the Nansen passport and metastate—proves more powerful than Putin’s empire, as exiles worldwide join under this new banner. Though Navalny is gone, his vision endures, with millions empowered by his dream, reshaping geopolitics from the ground up. The series ends on a bittersweet note, with Navalny’s legacy surviving as an enduring challenge to autocracy and a testament to the power of unified resistance.

The Future Vision: The Digital Nansen Passport and metastate

This narrative merges historical complexity with futuristic imagination, highlighting Navalny as both a figure of Russia’s past struggles and a visionary for its potential. The subtle plotlines deepen his story, casting Navalny not just as a dissident but as a symbol of global transformation, where ideas—not borders—define belonging. Here are some details and thematic ideas to enrich the plotlines, making the story more vivid:

• metastate Concept Inspired by Estonia and Ukraine: This concept can mirror Estonia’s e-Residency program and Ukraine’s "Government-as-a-Service" initiative through DIIA, which champions digital citizenship and governance without borders. Navalny’s digital passport system could evolve to allow Russians abroad to contribute to a virtual community, pledging allegiance to ideals rather than borders. This would be inspired by Fedorov’s pioneering digital governance in Ukraine, showing how tech-forward governance can circumvent authoritarian restrictions.
• Blockchain and Digital Identity: Inspired by blockchain's potential in governance, Navalny's digital identity initiative, like a modern “Nansen passport,” could embody transparency, freedom, and secure identity for exiled Russians and Belarusians. This concept reflects a transition from classic opposition to a "digital nation," where blockchain ensures accountability and transparency for those denied these rights in their home countries.
• The Historical Tie to Dresden’s Shadow Banking: Putin’s involvement in Dresden, setting up financial networks to fund the collapsing USSR, contrasts sharply with Navalny's anti-corruption platform, establishing the digital “Navalny Card” as a counter to shadow banking. This clash could be depicted in reflective moments, where Navalny’s investigations uncover remnants of Soviet-style corruption, subtly tracing it back to Putin’s early years.

• Zelensky’s Vision Beyond Borders: The storyline would show how Ukraine could accept skilled Russian exiles, emphasizing that talent, not land, drives modern influence. This echoes Zelensky’s stance of capturing minds over territory, establishing Ukraine as the first "metastate" where identity aligns with shared values, not borders.

• Navalny’s Influence on Future Political Imagination: Drawing on the utopian vision from Utopia for Realists, Navalny’s message could emphasize happiness over freedom alone, redefining the narrative to create a "Beautiful Russia of the Future." His rhetoric would focus on the happiness of society, inspiring Russians to imagine a life beyond corruption, cynicism, and systemic despair.
• Meta-Union of the Displaced: This concept envisions Russians, Belarusians, and others forming a "union" or decentralized "network state," creating a federation based on digital identities and shared values rather than physical borders. Inspired by (neo)Marx’s idea of a common bond across borders, Navalny’s digital state would unite those who resist Putin’s rule, forming a community driven by collective aspirations rather than nationalist boundaries.

Unconventional Resolution and the Ideological Clash

• The Electoral Challenge from Abroad: Navalny’s team could organize symbolic elections among the diaspora, challenging Putin’s regime by giving Russians abroad a chance to express opposition. This would echo the European Parliament's support for digital identities and democratic support for exiles, allowing dissidents to officially vote against authoritarian leaders while residing outside the reach of their governments.
• Putin’s Loss of Talent and Navalny’s Assassination: The final act would juxtapose Putin’s loss of Russia’s intellectual and entrepreneurial talent to Navalny’s digital state concept. It would reveal that Putin ordered Navalny’s assassination, fearing the growth of this “metastate” and its implications for Russia’s future as talented individuals escape his regime. This loss of people, not just territory, becomes Putin's most feared “territorial” loss.

• A Tale of Parallels and Mirrors: Scenes could visually contrast Putin's shadowy Dresden years with Navalny’s digital nation, using tones that reflect the past's weighty cynicism against the bright, connected world of Navalny’s vision.
• Imagery of Resilience and Hope: As Navalny inspires a new Russian identity and global opposition, imagery would celebrate those creating a “Russia of the future”—a stark contrast to the fear-based, territorial mindset that Putin symbolizes.

By integrating these elements, the series would capture Navalny's vision as more than political opposition—he becomes an architect of new governance and community for displaced Russians, challenging Putin on an unprecedented scale.

*In their podcast “The Russian Banker,” Courtney Weaver and Stefania Palma discussed my involvement and my connection to Alexei Navalny: Courtney mentioned that I ‘was a marketing guru’ and a supporter of Alexei Navalny. I participated in the protests during a time when Navalny first gained prominence, inspired by the spirit and beauty of the movement. I had the idea to invite Navalny to speak at one of a bank’s events. This led to Navalny giving a talk on corruption and its impact on the Russian economy. I also came up with the concept of the “Navalny card,” a debit card that would donate 1% of purchases to Navalny’s ANTI-CORRUPTION FOUNDATION (ACF) . The project initially garnered attention and support but eventually attracted negative attention from the Russian authorities, leading to pressure on a bank to abandon the initiative. The podcast emphasized the complexity of the situation, hinting that the Navalny connection was significant.