Few folks perceive what Yulia Navalnaya, the spouse of the slain Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, goes by way of proper now higher than Evgenia Kara-Murza. Like Navalnaya, she has skilled what it’s prefer to have a partner jailed for difficult Russian President Vladimir Putin. Her husband, the Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, has been languishing behind bars since 2022 over his opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (though not a politician herself, she has taken up his activism in his stead). She too has skilled what it’s prefer to have her household focused with assassination makes an attempt—like Navalny, Vladimir Kara-Murza was poisoned by the Kremlin. Twice. And like Navalnaya, who on Monday vowed to proceed her husband’s battle for a “free, peaceful, and happy Russia,” Kara-Murza understands what drives somebody to select up the place their accomplice left off.

“I’m happy that she’s decided to continue Alexei’s work, to continue his legacy, because I think it will maybe help her cope with what she’s living through right now,” Kara-Murza tells TIME. “I know that work always helps me when I’m absolutely terrified for Vladimir’s life and I know that this will also give her this sense of purpose now that she lost the person she loved most in the whole world.”

Like Navalny’s household, many world leaders and Kremlin critics alike have laid the blame for Navalny’s demise squarely on Putin, whose foes have usually been met with violent deaths. But why the Kremlin would select now to kill Navalny, who on the time of his demise was dealing with a long time in jail with little to no prospect of launch, is unclear. The consequence of subsequent month’s ritualistic election in Russia—wherein all real challengers to Putin have been disqualified, jailed, or worse—was by no means in any doubt. If something, issues look like wanting up for the Russian chief, notably as U.S. help to Ukraine stalls and as NATO braces for the potential for a second Donald Trump presidency, which many observers predict would wreak irreparable harm on the militancy alliance.

In an eponymous documentary in 2022, Navalny predicted that an try on his life may solely imply one factor: “That we are incredibly strong.” This was the message that Navalnaya has bolstered within the days since her husband’s demise, which she says was orchestrated as a way to “kill our hope, our freedom, our future.” It’s a perception that Kara-Murza shares—and one she says should drive their work now.

Speaking to TIME from Vienna, Kara-Murza discusses the timing of Navalny’s demise, what it means for her personal husband’s destiny, and the place the battle for a free and democratic Russia goes from right here.

Read More: Alexei Navalny Is With Us Forever Now

TIME: How did you hear the information of Navalany’s demise?

Evgenia Kara-Murza: I simply awakened at dwelling and that was the very first thing I noticed. I woke as much as the calls of buddies, colleagues and journalists. 

I’m completely sure that this was a political assassination as a result of even when they didn’t use Novichok [nerve agent] or no matter else that they’ve of their toolbox, they tried to kill him as soon as up to now after which they threw him in jail the place he was tortured for 3 years in situations wherein his state of well being was deteriorating. So far the Russian authorities provided two explanations of his demise: the “sudden death syndrome,” so mainly the authorities mentioned that he dropped and died, or thrombosis, which in response to his docs was unlikely as a result of he was not affected by any situation that might make a blood clot probably. And the factor is, had it actually been thrombosis, had it actually been pure causes, why are the Russian authorities refusing to provide Alexei’s physique to his household? His mom is there, his legal professionals are there. They should not even being allowed into the morgue.

Just like my husband, Alexei was a wholesome man earlier than they tried to kill him with Novichok after which held him for 3 years in a solitary, punishment cell. No causes might be seen as pure in these circumstances.

What do you make of the timing of Navalny’s demise? Was he nonetheless perceived as a menace, even behind bars?

Every dissenter in Russia is a menace to the regime, judging by the cruel therapy they obtain for his or her dissent. Alexei was undoubtedly one of many greatest threats as a result of he has at all times been extremely efficient in bringing folks out within the streets. He has been extremely efficient in exposing the kleptocratic nature of this regime. He was, in fact, seen as a private enemy of the state.

I don’t know why he was killed particularly now. Vladimir Putin is a deeply disturbed individual, so it will be a really harmful feat to attempt to get into his head. But take a look at the short-lived marketing campaign of [erstwhile presidential candidate] Boris Nadezhdin. He will not be a outstanding opposition political determine. But he was additionally the one candidate working on an anti-war platform. And in simply two weeks—with out entry to state media, with all of the restrictions and challenges that he confronted throughout this short-lived marketing campaign—he was capable of gather over 200,000 signatures. And that in itself was an act of defiance and bravado on the a part of these individuals who have been leaving the signatures as a result of once you go away a signature to help a candidate, you permit your full identify, your tackle, all of your private info. But like my husband mentioned throughout a current courtroom listening to, these folks have been there to not put signatures for Nadezhdin, however to place signatures towards the battle. And Vladimir Putin realized that; he realized that if Nadezhdin was capable of gather over 200,000 signatures in simply two weeks, with out the power of absolutely main his marketing campaign like a candidate ought to, he would really be a menace to him. He would not threat this. And so he determined it will be safer to not register him in any respect.

Vladimir Putin will not be a assured chief who actually has the help of his inhabitants. A assured chief who believes that his inhabitants trusts him and has confidence in him would enable his opponents on the poll. This chief wouldn’t use repression towards his inhabitants. Vladimir Putin desires to create this warped picture of actuality in which there’s this united help for him and the battle. Meanwhile, arrests and detentions proceed every day. Over 360 folks have been arrested simply within the final three days for laying flowers for Navalny. I’m not saying that the regime will collapse tomorrow. But I’m saying that it’s a regime that isn’t constructed on Vladimir Putin’s confidence of the help of the inhabitants. And the picture that he desires to create for the world of the unity behind him has nothing to do with actuality.

Threats to yours and your loved ones’s security are sadly not new. Does Navalny’s demise renew any of these fears?

I’ve lived with this since no less than 2015, when first [Kremlin critic] Boris Nemtsov was assassinated after which, two months after that, when Vladimir was poisoned for the primary time. And since that first poisoning, I’ve been sleeping with my cellphone, afraid to overlook an vital name and afraid to get that decision. This is the fact of life in Russia at present, of the life of somebody who opposes the regime. You’re strolling a really skinny line and at each step you threat being killed, imprisoned, tortured, no matter. This is the lifetime of anybody who stands as much as the Putin regime.

Is your husband conscious of Navalny’s demise?

Yes. His lawyer went to see him at present. I used to be very, very fearful as a result of I can’t even think about that you just’re behind bars and also you hear that your colleague had simply been murdered. I requested his lawyer after the go to how Vladimir was and he mentioned he was swearing—after which he added, “but he does not panic.” He’s very, very indignant.

Was he near Navalny?

They’ve recognized one another for a few years. They at all times revered one another, so far as I do know. Alexei was at all times impressed with Vladimir’s effectiveness on the worldwide stage and Vladimir was duly impressed by Alexei’s effectiveness on bringing folks out within the streets in Russia. So they have been working in numerous areas, however striving for a similar aim.

You are one of many few individuals who would have a proximate understanding of what Yulia Navalnaya has been by way of. Do you understand her?

Surprisingly sufficient, we’ve by no means even met. Before Vladimir’s detention, I used to be by no means a public individual and Yulia was by no means a public individual. I do know that Vladimir met Yulia, however I’ve by no means met both Yulia or Alexei in individual.

Like you, Yulia has vowed to proceed her husband’s work. Might you be capable of work collectively?

I’m very open to dialogue and I’m open to cooperation with anybody who’s preventing for a similar trigger, so if such a chance offered itself I’d be more than pleased—why not? I imagine that we have to convey our efforts collectively and battle the regime and all of us have this responsibility to do every thing we will to cease the battle. As Russian residents, now we have this responsibility.

I used to be in fact very a lot impressed by Yulia’s assertion. I imagine that the power and resilience that was emanating from her are all of the extra spectacular once you understand what precisely she’s dwelling by way of proper now. 

I see that this battle is getting an more and more pronounced female face. It’s these girls who arise as a result of their family members have been both killed or are in jail, each in Russia and in Belarus. And I imagine that is really a superb factor as a result of girls can convey that long-forgotten understanding of values again to the world of politics; that understanding that you need to act based mostly in your values and never in your pursuits.

Indeed, neither you nor Yulia Navalnaya nor Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (who took up the mantle of her husband’s activism after he was jailed by Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko) determine as politicians. You all seemingly took on this work out of loyalty to your companions, in addition to to the values you share?

It’s each issues. It’s not simply out of affection, which already is sufficient—folks do wonderful issues out of affection. But additionally, in my case, it’s the understanding that I additionally owe it to my youngsters. And I additionally owe it to my compatriots. I’m a Russian citizen too and the Russian state is at the moment main a battle of aggression in Ukraine and, as a Russian citizen, it’s my responsibility to face up and do one thing about it; to do my greatest to cease this aggression, to do my greatest to convey these accountable to accountability. So sure, in huge half it’s as a result of I’ve at all times admired and admire and I imagine I at all times will admire my husband and his dedication to his trigger. And I perceive that this type of work can’t cease now. This work has to proceed—the work on political prisoners, the work on Magnitsky sanctions, the work on ensuring that the Russian state is held accountable below worldwide legislation for the crimes that it’s committing. That work that Vladimir has been doing for years can’t cease now when it’s most wanted.

So I’ve this motivation in persevering with my husband’s work. I’ve the motivation of a Russian citizen who sees that the Russian state is killing civilians in Ukraine. And I additionally owe it to my youngsters as a result of if I need to train my youngsters about what real love and partnership is, I’ve to point out it from my very own instance. If your beloved is in hassle, you battle for her or him. You try this. You arise and battle for them. I owe it to my youngsters to battle for his or her father, to convey him again.

The final motivation, and never the least, is the truth that when 20 years in the past I mentioned that I might spend my life with this man, I meant it. I need to spend my life and develop previous with this specific man and I would like him alive and by my facet. And I’ll battle for that proper and for that dream that we share of spending our life collectively and rising previous collectively.

This interview has been edited and condensed for readability.