Sir, – Alexei Navalny gave his life fighting for democracy, and for an end to the corruption and kleptocracy that are so prevalent in today’s Russia (“Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny dies in Arctic jail, Russian prison service says”, News, February 16th).
With his sad passing, the beacon of hope for such a future has become that bit dimmer, and those who espouse autocracy and tyranny further emboldened. I call upon our leaders to open books of condolence that we who have the good fortune to live in a democratic society may express our grief and demonstrate our solidarity with all those who are the victims of Putin’s Russia. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN O’REILLY,
Dublin 13.