Alexei Navalny’s life purpose was to transform his country and for him there was “no choice” but to return to Russia, the producer of the Navalny documentary has said.
Speaking to Sky News, Odessa Rae said it was “incredible” filming with the Russian opposition figure, from his time coming out of a coma to his return to Russia.
“He was one of the most extraordinary people,” she said.
“One of the most selfless and giving and somebody who held a vision for the future which we should not forget.”
She said while Mr Navalny’s death was “always a possibility” for this to become a reality was “something completely different”.
Asked why Mr Navalny decided to return to Russia, Ms Rae said it was “an easy question for her to answer”.
She said: “The precedent that had been set in Russia was that any political leader that tried to operate and have a voice outside of Russia was completely irrelevant inside Russia.
“For Navalny, his life’s purpose was to transform this country so there was no choice but to go back.
“This was before the war in Ukraine. The war changed that precedent because a lot of people started operating outside Russia.”
She went on to say Mr Navalny cared about making a change in the country and for him “there was absolutely no choice” but to return to Russia.
