Bipartisan bill would rename street near Russian envoy's residence after Navalny

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) on Tuesday introduced a bill proposing to rename part of the street near the Russian ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C., as “Alexei Navalny Way.”

The bill would honor the late Russian opposition leader, Alexey Navalny, who died almost exactly a year ago in a remote Arctic penal colony at the age of 47.

“Putin has tried to silence anyone in Russia who might dissent from his strategy — anyone who might have the audacity to suggest there should be democracy or freedom in that country,” Durbin said in a statement. “He sent one of his harshest critics — Alexei Navalny — to prison and, tragically, to his death.”

Durbin said he hopes the legislation honors Navalny’s memory and ensures “his efforts for a free Russia will never be forgotten.”

Navalny, who rose to prominence for his campaign against corruption and Russian President Vladimir Putin, died in a Russian prison in February 2024.

His death caused a public outcry and prompted scrutiny of Russia from around the world. Navalny had been imprisoned since 2021, when he returned to Russia after recovering from a poisoning that he blamed on Putin, who denies the claims.

“The world was shaken at the news of Alexei Navalny’s death. Renaming the street near the Russian Ambassador’s residence, Navalny Way memorializes his fight for freedom and democracy,” Cassidy said in a statement.

“When Russians visit our nation’s capital, they will remember his unflinching opposition to Putin’s dictatorial control,” Cassidy continued.

The bill comes a week after President Trump and Putin spoke at length by phone and the same day that Russian and American delegations met in Saudi Arabia to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.

The talks between the Americans and Russians have prompted concern among some U.S. lawmakers and European officials, who have largely agreed to treat Putin as a pariah on the world stage since he launched the unprovoked invasion of Ukraine three years ago.

The bill was introduced in the House in the last Congress by a bipartisan duo: Reps. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).

The Senate bill is also co-sponsored by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.).

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