For us (in Poland)he was just another Russian imperialist. Not opposition but competition for Putin. He clearly stated that Poland should be part of Russian empire. Also he officially said that Crimea is Russia. Americans still don't understand Russia.

RIP Alexei Navalny.

The US/UK should free Assange, free Ulbricht, pardon Snowden, and double-down on freedom as a contrast. They won't, but they should.

Russia is way more politically controlled and censored than their western counterparts, but if the western counterparts were smart they would emphasize this fact rather than lean more into being even half-like Russia.

Kudos to builders of various freedom tech.