Trump compares own legal battles with Navalny, censures $355M fine

Donald Trump compares his current legal battles to the mistreatment faced by the deceased Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, who died in prison

Donald Trump Tuesday drew a parallel between his ongoing legal challenges and the persecution suffered by the late Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, who passed away in custody last week.

During a town hall event in South Carolina aired on Fox News, the former U.S. president, who is currently leading the race for the 2024 nomination, once again refrained from criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin in relation to Navalny’s mysterious death. 

Navalny’s sudden demise at 47 in a prison in the Arctic sent shockwaves through Russia’s opposition in exile and the Western world, with leades like U.S. President Joe Biden pointing fingers at the Kremlin. 

Trump vehemently criticized the hefty $355 million fine imposed on him in a New York fraud trial, equating it to a tactic reminiscent of the treatment Navalny faced.

He characterized this as a form of either communism or fascism. 

Despite being urged by host Laura Ingraham, Trump avoided mentioning Putin directly in connection with Navalny but acknowledged the situation as “very sad.” He praised Navalny’s courage for returning to Russia instead of staying abroad, where he might have been safer. 

Trump then pivoted to his legal battles, claiming that his numerous trials, including a civil fraud case in New York and 91 criminal charges, were politically motivated because of his involvement in politics.

He insinuated that these legal challenges were a deliberate attempt to undermine him, especially since he believes he wouldn’t face such scrutiny if he were not a political threat. 

By leveraging his legal troubles, Trump has energized his supporters, framing the court cases as a concerted effort to hinder his chances in future elections. 

Trump’s historically lenient stance on Russia, coupled with his admiration for Putin, has raised eyebrows. His recent actions, such as blocking a bill that would have allocated substantial military aid to Ukraine and suggesting that Russia should target NATO members who haven’t fulfilled their financial commitments, have caused concern among Western allies 

 Source: AFP