Irish singer Bono paid tribute to the memory of the Russian opponent on stage on Saturday evening, a day after his death was announced.
The group U2 paid tribute to Alexei Navalny this Saturday, February 17, on stage in Las Vegas in the United States. While the group performed at the Sphere, where it has had a residence since last September, singer Bono gave a short speech in honor of the Russian opponent, the greatest enemy of Vladimir Putin, who died the day before in prison in the Siberian village of Kharp.
“Next week it will be two years since Putin invaded Ukraine,” the Irish singer initially explained.
“Then it will be Poland, then Lithuania, then East Germany,” he continued, as reported by American site Variety. “Who knows how far this man will go. For these people, freedom is not just a word in a song. For these people, freedom is the most important word in the world. So important that Ukrainians are fighting and dying for it. So important” that Alexei Navalny decided to give it up.
A reference to the decision of the anti-corruption activist, Vladimir Putin's number one enemy, to return to Russia in January 2021 after recovering in Germany because of poisoning for which he blamed the Kremlin. He was then immediately arrested.
“We have to say his name.”
“It looks like Putin will never say his name,” Bono continued. “That’s why I think we who believe in freedom must say his name tonight. Don’t just think about it, say it.” The actor from “Pride” then repeated Alexei Navalny’s name, accompanied by his audience.
Alexei Navalny, who died at the age of 47, was on duty a prison sentence of 19 years for extremism and was since last December in the penal colony IK-3, a frozen prison beyond the Arctic Circle, in the Siberian village of Kharp. After his death, many Western officials pointed the finger at Putin's system. Allegations that the Kremlin deemed “unacceptable.”
The U2 group has repeatedly expressed its support for Volodymyr Zelensky in the war between Ukraine and Russia. Last May they performed in the Kiev subway.