Murder in the Gulag

The explosive account of how Putin poisoned Alexei Navalny

By: John Sweeney

Narrated by: John Sweeney

'Murder in the Gulag is brilliant journalistic writing: punchy, eloquent, page-turning and factual. It's a powerful reminder of what an extraordinary man Navalny was' - Roland Oliphant, Telegraph

The gripping sequel to the bestselling Killer in the Kremlin, revised and updated for paperback publication.

2:19pm, Moscow time, 16 February 2024. The Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District announces that Alexei Navalny is dead. The news sends shockwaves around the world.

In Murder in the Gulag, award-winning journalist John Sweeney goes behind the headlines to reveal what really happened to the Russian opposition leader in the freezing Polar Wolf penal colony in a remote part of Siberia. The book is less a whodunnit - Russian President Vladimir Putin's machinery of repression killed Navalny - than a howdunnit.

The narrative relates Navalny's extraordinary life story in technicolour detail, from his childhood summers spent with his grandparents in the shadow of the Chernobyl nuclear plant in Ukraine to his untimely death at the age of 47, cut down in his prime.

This is a warts-and-all portrayal of a highly charismatic but controversial figure who flirted with far-right Russian nationalists before course-correcting, told by an intrepid journalist, based in London and Kyiv, who knew Navalny personally.

Murder in the Gulag contains a warning. Navalny made a fatal misjudgement in returning to Russia after his poisoning by Novichok in 2020, betting that Vladimir Putin wouldn't kill him. But as Putin has gained in strength, with the death of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and the fortunes of war slowly turning in Russia's favour, Navalny lost that bet. Sweeney argues that if the West fails to stand up more forcefully to Putin, we are in danger not just of betraying Ukraine but our own security too.©2024 Black Dog Woof! Woof! Productions Limited

Critic reviews

Murder in the Gulag is brilliant journalistic writing: punchy, eloquent, page-turning and factual. It's a powerful reminder of what an extraordinary man Navalny was. (Roland Oliphant)

[Sweeney] has done a valuable service with this lively page-turner. He is keeping Navalny's name alive and has shown that, despite all that Putin has done to corrupt society, there is a core of decency in Russia. (Victor Sebestyen)

[a] forensic and compelling account

In a grimly fascinating read, Sweeney provides a crash course in Russia's recent history . . . and provides a genuinely frightening depiction of what it means to challenge the Russian leader's grasp on power. (John Walshe)

Passionate . . . Sweeney not only gives a detailed backstory to this flawed hero, but also provides an insight into Putin's fears and the lengths he will go to to silence all opposition: something that too many Western observers are still reluctant to understand. (Ksenia Samotiy)

There is a growing realisation that the West has, yet again, been naively neglectful and that we must do much, much more to secure our world and our children's world too. Sweeney's Murder in the Gulag is a very timely and valuable contribution to that debate and process. (Jack Power)

Very moving accounting pf the murder of Navalny

Loved this book! It is so sad that the man was snuffed out. I hope his spirt comes back like the terminator and Russia will be free from their hellish dictator!

How cruel & soulless Putin is!

Excellent narration of a wonderful, informative book; read it after reading Navalny’s book “Patriot” and it explained a lot!

the future of america?

highly recommend that everyone read this fabulous book and realize that the USA, under trump, is on the way to turning into a country with a government like that.

The corruption of Putin and his supporters

Heartbreaking what they did to Navalny. He was a decent man and Putin is pure evil.

important

An accurate account of detailed history and important events, A perfect companion to Navolni's Patriot.