MOSCOW: Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza has been sentenced to 25 years in a high-security prison on charges of treason, spreading false information about the Russian army, and links to an “undesirable organization” after a closed-door trial in Moscow. The sentence is the longest against an opposition figure in recent years.
Kara-Murza, who appeared in court wearing a black T-shirt and grey blazer, smiled and gestured to his strong supporters to write to him in prison.
His wife Evgenia Kara-Murza wrote on Twitter, “A quarter of a century is an ‘A Plus’ for your courage, honesty, and consistency in your year-long work. I am extremely proud of you, my love, and I’m always by your side.”
Kara-Murza has over the years pleaded in the United States (US) and Europe for the adoption of individual sanctions against Russian officials.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Russian opposition figure, has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison after being convicted of allegedly spreading “false and derogatory” information about Russia. Kara-Murza is a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been a vocal advocate for human rights and democracy in the country.
He has also been a driving force behind the Magnitsky Act, a US law aimed at punishing Russian officials implicated in the death of tax lawyer Sergei Magnitsky in a Moscow prison in 2009. The decision has been met with widespread condemnation from leaders and supporters who have called for Kara-Murza’s release.
The United States has criticized Russia’s “escalating campaign of repression,” while the British, Canadian, and US ambassadors have denounced the ruling outside the Moscow court. The European Union has described the court decision as “outrageously harsh,” and Germany has deplored the “shocking level” of repression.
UN and Britain urge Russia for Kara-Murza’s immediate release
The UN and Britain have also urged for Kara-Murza’s immediate release. Kara-Murza’s imprisonment is seen as another example of the Russian government’s crackdown on dissenting voices critical of the regime and its actions, including its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine.
Many of Putin’s major opponents have either fled the country or are in jail, including opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated around the Kremlin in 2015. Kara-Murza has suffered from a nerve condition called polyneuropathy, and he has claimed that he was poisoned twice due to his political activities.
Despite his health concerns, he has continued to spend long periods in Russia. However, his lawyers have reported that his condition has deteriorated while in prison, and he has been too unwell to attend some of his hearings.
The sentencing of Kara-Murza is likely to escalate tensions between Russia and the West, which have been strained over issues including Ukraine, Syria, and accusations of election interference.
