Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has said that she can “imagine Russia without Putin”, and that, though it “could take a very, very long time”, it could also “happen tomorrow – like everything happens in Russia”.

Speaking at the Southbank Centre’s London literature festival for the launch of Navalny’s memoir, Patriot, Navalnaya said that she would not be able to continue her husband’s work, including leading the Anti-Corruption Foundation he founded, if she did not believe there could be an alternative to Putin.

She encouraged people to do “something very small” every day to “fight” the regime and push Russia towards being a “normal, democratic” country as soon as possible. This might include posting on social media or speaking to a colleague. “It means a lot,” she added.

Navalny began writing his memoir in Germany while recovering from being poisoned by Russian security services in 2020. Navalnaya said that her husband did not want to go into exile – it would have been “unacceptable” to him, and he would not have been happy– and she added that his urge to be close to the Russian people was his “superpower”.

In January 2021, he flew back to Russia and was arrested at the airport. He spent the last 37 months of his life in prison and died in an Arctic penal colony on 16 February this year. His memoir tells the story of his childhood, marriage and political rise, and includes his prison diaries.

Asked whether Navalny regretted returning to Russia, his wife said that she had never heard him say that. She added that he “continued to be optimistic” and was “very strong even the day before his death”, mentioning that he was laughing in court.

Navalnaya said that her husband had been asked to write a book “many times”, but refused – he was sure that he would have a “very long life”, and wanted to focus on living it before writing a memoir. However, after he was poisoned, everything changed, and he decided to start writing the book.

Navalnaya, who received a standing ovation at the event on Wednesday evening, told the BBC earlier this week that she will one day stand for president of Russia. However, while Putin is still president, she cannot risk returning to the country.

Asked what she misses most about her husband, she said “everything” – but particularly their conversations and his advice. “He was the closest person in my life,” she said. “Of course I have friends, I have colleagues, but it’s not the same.”