Russia: How can Navalny’s death effect the Ukraine War

Written by: Luke Wagner and Ella Rutman; Edited by: Carmine Miklovis and Charlotte Freer

Imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died on Friday after collapsing and losing consciousness, Moscow state-media announced Friday. The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District said Navalny, 47, "felt unwell" after he went on a walk and "almost immediately lost consciousness." 

The cause of his death is unclear to the public but many believe that it the culmination from years of abuse in prison. However, other Navalny supporters around the world are skeptical that his death is a result of health issues and are reminded of a failed assassination attempt in 2020.  

When President Biden last spoke face-to-face with Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2021, he said that he made clear that the consequences of Navalny’s death would be “devastating” for Russia. 

In 2022 before returning to Russia and being arrested, Navalny sat down for an interview with CNN and delivered a message in English to the Russian people: “My message for the situation when I am killed is very simple – [do] not give up.” Then switching to the Russian language, Navalny said, “If they decide to kill me, it means that we are incredibly strong. We need to utilize this power, to not give up.” He continued, “We don’t realize how strong we actually are. The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing. So don’t be inactive.” 

Although it is unclear what the direct effect of Navalny’s death will be on the Russia-Ukrainian war, there has been a global condemnation of Putin and an increased aid for Ukraine. After meeting with Navalny’s widow and daughter, Biden declared sanctions on Russia, who he claims is responsible for Navalny’s death. Additionally, next week France is hosting an international Ukrainian aid meeting after pledging 3 billion euros in aid. Although it is unclear what additional measures the international community can take to punish Moscow beyond sanctions, as Navalny said, inaction is not an option. 

European Union: New restrictions on Artificial Intelligence passed

Written by: Carmine Miklovis; Edited by: Helen Lallos-Harrell

On Friday, February 2nd, The European Union (EU) moved to impose regulations on the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) in a move that may set a precedent for future responses to other developments in emerging technology. 

This agreement, which creates limitations on the use of certain types of AI, including the gradual implementation of law to criminalize deepfakes, comes after the cumulation of tense negotiations between European states. 

France and Germany, two economic powerhouses in the bloc who have taken advantage of recent technological developments to establish robust AI programs, pushed back against the bill’s restrictions, expressing concerns about the bill’s potential to hamstring innovation in the field. To remedy this, negotiators added a slew of measures intended to promote innovation, which ultimately proved sufficient to get the bill across the finish line. Amongst these measures was the promise that Berlin and Paris’ concerns would be addressed, in addition to the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Office, which is responsible for enforcing the act. 

As AI technology evolves rapidly, future debates on the extent to which technologies should be regulated are inevitable, and it’s only a matter of time before other AI frontrunners, such as the U.S. and China, respond to the EU’s action.

Spain: Why a Catalan separatist party voted against amnesty for its members

Written by: Helen Lallos-Harrell; Edited by: Carmine Miklovis

On January 30th, Spain's lower house rejected an amnesty bill proposed by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party in a 179 to 171 vote.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had championed the bill in exchange for parliamentary support of two Catalan separatist parties, Junts Party and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya – both parties that had enabled Sánchez to form his minority leftist government last year. The bill would have granted amnesty to hundreds of Catalan separatists and set standards for granting amnesty for terrorism-related charges, for which several politicians of the Junts Party currently face investigation.

Despite supporting amnesty for Catalan separatists, Junts members voted against the bill in a last-minute reversal after disagreements over some of the bill’s details could not be reconciled. Justice Minister Félix Bolaños described it as "absolutely incomprehensible that Junts should vote against a law it had agreed on" while speaking with reporters.

The amnesty bill has faced heavy pushback from the Spanish public, approximately half of which support the conservative and far-right opposition parties. Anti-amnesty bill demonstrations across Spain reflect this attitude, with some protesters comparing Sánchez's behavior to that of a dictator.

The bill will return to debate in parliamentary committees before it returns to the lower house for another vote. In the meantime, Junts members want to continue negotiating the bill's terms.

When describing the party's decision to vote against it in parliament, Míriam Nogueras, a member of the Together for Catalunya party in the Congress of Deputies, noted, "there is no reason to approve an amnesty law with holes in it." Regardless of specifics, the bill's rejection and its highly controversial nature demonstrate the fragile state of Sánchez's minority-rule government and call into question its sustainability in the coming years.

United Kingdom: Why are the Conservatives pinning their electoral chances on the controversial ‘Rwanda Plan?’

Written by Luke Wagner; Edited by Chloe Baldauf

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pinned much of his conservative party’s electoral success on the passage of the controversial ‘Rwanda Safety Bill.’  After narrowly avoiding a far-right conservative rebellion in the House of Commons, the bill is next headed for a vote in the House of Lords where its fate is anything but certain. 

Sunak’s government has championed the Rwanda Plan as the solution to tamping down the country’s high immigration.  In 2022, the UK and Rwanda struck a deal to respond to a dramatic increase in refugees arriving in Britain from across the English Channel via small boats arranged by human trafficking gangs.   

The East African nation agreed to accept Britain’s illegal migrants and provide them “safe” asylum in exchange for £240 million with £50 million more to come.  However, many in the UK were not convinced.  In November 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that this agreement was unlawful because there was not sufficient protection against Rwanda’s government deporting migrants back to their countries of origin – which would breach international humanitarian law.   

Despite this legal setback, Rishi Sunak’s government vowed to move forward with the proposal while bringing it in accordance with UK and international law.  These changes are what had many far-right MPs prepared to revolt against the policy they deemed not forceful enough.  However, for the sake of party unity, those far-right members in the House of Commons backed down from their threats and voted for the bill. 

The bill now sits with the unelected House of Lords.  Their traditional role is to amend legislation passed by the elected House of Commons, however, since the Conservatives do not constitute a clear majority in the House of Lords, opposition members have suggested that they have the responsibility to block this legislation.  Lord Alex Carlile, a leading British barrister and independent member of the House of Lords, signaled his intention to oppose the bill that he called a “step towards totalitarianism.”  

Although it could feasibly be blocked, the tailwinds may be in favor of stricter immigration policy.   Earlier this month, polling revealed 64% of Brits believed that immigration rates are “too high” – the highest rate since YouGov began surveying this question in 2019.   

If Sunak is unable to offer up a viable solution to high immigration, his prime ministership may be at risk.  Another YouGov poll released this week has been causing anxiety amongst Tories who were predicted to lose their majority in the upcoming election to the Labour Party with the heaviest loss in parliamentary seats since 1997.  However, if the Labour Party is held responsible for the rejection of the bill in the House of Lords, their electoral chances could suffer alongside Sunak’s.   

All the while, Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame said to reporters Thursday that his government is prepared to receive the migrants whenever or if they come.