History Today: How Russia arrested Navalny on his return from Germany

For those looking to take a history trip, January 17 holds significance as several important events took place on this day.

In 2021, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny returned to his home country from Germany following which he was arrested.

On this day, Ireland granted its first divorce in 1997. Meanwhile, the character of Popeye made its debut in the comic strip Thimble Theatre.

As part of Firstpost Explainers’ History Today series, we look into defining moments of this day and their impact on the world.

Alexei Navalny arrested on his return from Germany

Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny was returning to his homeland on January 17, 2021, when he was arrested by Russian officials. He was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport after spending five months recovering from being poisoned with a nerve agent Novichok.

Navalny knew he was to be arrested as Russian authorities had broadcast this on state media in a bid to keep him out of the country. His flight, originally scheduled to land at Vnukovo Airport, was diverted to Sheremetyevo Airport, where he was detained by Russian authorities shortly after landing.

Navalny was accused of violating the terms of a suspended sentence from a prior fraud case, which he and his supporters deemed politically motivated.

He was then sentenced to serve a 19-year prison sentence on “extremism” charges in an Arctic penal colony. Later, his death on February 16, 2024 at age 47 drew widespread condemnation, with many blaming Putin.

Protests erupted across Russia in the days following, with thousands taking to the streets to demand his freedom.

Ireland granted first divorce in 1997

In 1997, Ireland granted its first divorce. This came after a 1995 referendum where Irish citizens voted to amend the constitution to allow for divorce.

The referendum narrowly passed with 50.3 per cent of voters in favour, leading to the Fifteenth Amendment of the Irish Constitution. This change allowed for divorce under specific conditions, including that spouses had been living apart for at least four of the previous five years, there was no reasonable prospect of reconciliation, and proper provision was made for dependents.

The divorce was granted to a man in his late 60s and terminally ill. He wanted to divorce his wife and marry his lover, who he had been living with for several months. According to reports, the divorce was without any bitterness.

The granting of the first divorce in 1997 symbolised a new era, reflecting evolving attitudes toward marriage and family law in Ireland.

Popeye makes his debut

In 1929, Popeye the Sailor Man made his debut in the comic strip Thimble Theatre, created by Elzie Crisler Segar. Initially, Thimble Theatre revolved around the Oyl family, particularly Olive Oyl and her brother Castor Oyl. However, the introduction of Popeye, a rough-around-the-edges sailor with a heart of gold, quickly shifted the spotlight to him.

Popeye’s character has a trademark spinach-fueled strength and gravelly voice that made him an instant hit with readers. The comic’s popularity soared, leading to Popeye becoming the central character of the strip.

In the 1930s, Popeye transitioned to the screen, appearing in animated shorts produced by Fleischer Studios. These cartoons further cemented his place in popular culture along with characters like Bluto, his rival for Olive Oyl’s affection, and Wimpy, the hamburger-loving friend.

The animated series popularised Popeye’s love for spinach, portraying it as the source of his superhuman strength which significantly boosted spinach consumption among children in the United States.

This Day, That Year

• In 1991, Herald V became the king of Norway following the death of his father, Olav V.

• American-born chess player Bobby Fischer, the youngest grandmaster in history when he received the title in 1958, died at the age of 64 in Iceland.

• American professional boxer Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1942.