Novodvorska, Russian Friend of Ukraine and

Enemy of Putin, Dies Suddenly

When a well-known Russian human rights activists, former dissident and political prisoner, friend of and supporter of Ukraine, enemy of Putin and his Russia, and champion of Ukraine and its revolutionary leader Stepan Bandera suddenly dies of infectious toxic shock syndrome it is natural to look for the smoking gun in the hand of Vladimir Putin.

Fortunately for Putin, he was touring Latin America, throwing favors to regional leaders so the immediate connection will be difficult to be made. Nonetheless, as with Anna Politkovska, the truth and circumstances about Valeriya Novodvorska’s abrupt death may surface sooner than later.

While her goodwill stretched across the border into Ukraine, where it was felt from Kyiv to all of the towns, her absence will be most felt in her native Russia where the fledgling and timid human rights and anti-Putin movement has lost a mighty, fearless advocate.

Novodvorska, 62, championed anti-Putin and his anti-tyrannical policies since his coming to power. Most recently she supported Ukraine’s national revolution against Putin’s lackey Viktor Vanukovych, she supported Madian, and sided with Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders. She was one of the organizers of an anti-war rally in Moscow earlier this year.

Novodvorska was a regular on Russian radio programs in the United States where she unabashedly expressed those views and associated them with Ukrainian history by speaking favorably about OUN leader Stepan Bandera and UPA commander in chief Roman Shukhevych. Novodvorska was not intimidated into silence by dissenting radio listeners. As a matter of fact, she proudly wore a lapel button of Stepan Bandera and displayed his portrait in her Moscow apartment.

Very recently Novodvorska urged Russian terrorists in Ukraine to surrender, explaining to them that Putin is using them as cannon fodder.

Suddenly yesterday morning she was taken to a hospital where the doctors tried in vain for several hours to save her.

Whether or not Putin was involved, he again deviously prevailed over the forces of good. Twitter posts from Ukraine glorified her as a human rights champion and friend of Ukraine. Some even suggested that a street in Kyiv be renamed in her honor because she deserved it.

But more tragically, the Russian people will lose without her strong voice in their defense.

Вечная память. Eternal memory.