Russian opposition activist and blogger Alexei Navalny is one of the 30 most influential people on the Internet, according to a compilation published by Time magazine Friday, on the same day Navalny was released from jail.
Navalny earned his spot on the list "by exposing corruption in [President] Vladimir Putin's regime," according to the U.S. magazine, which singled out his report alleging a $4 billion corruption scheme at the state-owned oil firm Transneft that garnered a million views in one day.
"As long as he has an Internet connection, he will remain a major thorn in Putin's side — and a force in Russian politics," Time concluded.
Other people to make the international list included world leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama, Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with a host of celebrities including singers Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber and Beyonce, TV host Jimmy Fallon, reality TV star Kim Kardashian and Harry Potter author J.K Rowling, as well as popular food, fashion and design bloggers.
Navalny, who was the only Russian to feature on the list, appropriately took to Twitter to respond to the news.
"Turns out Justin Bieber and I are among the 30 most influential people on the Internet. Shame I didn't know about it earlier — I could have entertained the other people in the detention center," he wrote Friday.
The opposition activist, who was a leading figure in large-scale street protests that swept Russia in 2011 and 2012, was released Friday after spending two weeks in jail for distributing flyers for an opposition rally on the Moscow metro.
The criteria used by Time magazine to compile the list were social media followings, site traffic and ability to drive news. The list is not ranked.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
