The Bled Strategic Forum honoured Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, with the Distinguished Partner Award. In her address, Navalnaya called for an EU strategy for Russia.

After the death of her husband, Navalnaya became a powerful advocate for human rights and democracy and has taken on the role of the figurehead of Russia's anti-Putin movement.

In her speech, Navalnaya said that her late husband never lost sight of the big picture and he had a vision of a beautiful, democratic Russia of the future.

She believes the EU currently has no strategy in place to get to the Russia of the future but has instead imposed sanctions and restrictions.

"We cannot close our eyes and make Russia disappear," Navalnaya said, adding that the futures of the EU and Russia will be linked. That is why a strategy for Russia must be developed.

Russia can and should become a democratic European country within its internationally recognised borders, Navalnaya said. That cannot be done while Russian President Vladimir Putin remains in power, she said, adding: "We will fight together to remove this obstacle to peace and freedom."

Navalnaya was handed out the award by Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob. In an earlier statement, Golob said that Navalny's being part of the recent Russia-West spy exchange might have been his death sentence.

Navalnaya's call for an EU strategy for Russia was echoed by Garry Kasparov, Russian chess grandmaster and co-founder of the Free Russia Forum.

He said Navalny's death was no coincidence but rather Putin testing the waters and sending a message of his strength.

So far there has been no real resolve from the EU and the US to do what is needed to win the war, Kasparov said.

Kasparov believes the goal is for Ukraine to win the war, which should include a full liberation of Ukrainian lands, reparations and war criminals being brought to justice.

Even if Putin's regime is overthrown, it could take years to rebuild democracy in Russia, Kasparov said. "China is watching the war with great pleasure," Kasparov said, adding that unlike Europe, China had a plan and could make Russia into its satellite.

The war in Ukraine is a symbolic demonstration of Putin's strength but he does not need to risk a direct confrontation with NATO, he can destroy it from within, said Kasparov. "Democracy dies when it is being besieged," he added.