Vladimir Kara-Murza: Russian opposition chief jailed for 25 years after treason conviction

One of Vladimir Putin’s largest critics has been jailed in Russia for 25 years after being discovered responsible of treason.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, 41, a father of three and former journalist who holds Russian and British passports, spent years as a politician opposing the Russian president.

He was accused of treason and of discrediting the navy by prosecutors after he criticised the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.

However, Mr Kara-Murza, who has stood by his phrases all through the trial, has criticised his prosecution.

The opposition chief, who claims to have twice been poisoned by Russian operatives, has beforehand in contrast his trial to one in all Soviet dictator Josef Stalin’s present trials within the Thirties.

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He declined to ask the court docket to acquit him and mentioned: “Criminals are supposed to repent of what they have done. I,
on the other hand, am in prison for my political views.”

“I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate,” he mentioned throughout his trial.

‘Politically motivated’

His 25-year sentence, which matches the sentence requested by prosecutors, is the harshest of its type since Russia invaded Ukraine.

It has attracted criticism from the British authorities, which has described the conviction as “politically-motivated”.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) mentioned it had summoned the Russian Ambassador, Andrey Kelin, and that it’ll “make clear that the UK considers Mr Kara-Murza’s conviction to be contrary to Russia’s international obligations on human rights, including the right to a fair trial”.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly mentioned: “Vladimir Kara-Murza bravely denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for what it was – a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.

“Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is alarming.

“We proceed to induce Russia to stick to its worldwide obligations together with Vladimir Kara-Murza’s entitlement to correct healthcare.

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“I pay tribute to Mr Kara-Murza and his family, including his wife Evgenia and her unwavering commitment to raising her husband’s cause on the international stage.

“The UK will proceed to assist them and to name for Mr Kara-Murza’s fast launch.”

‘Regime of murderers’

Under censorship laws, introduced in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “discrediting” the army can currently be punished by up to five years in prison.

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Spreading information deemed deliberately false about the Russian military can attract a 15-year jail sentence.

Mr Kara-Murza had used speeches in the United States and across Europe to accuse Moscow of bombing civilian targets in Ukraine – which the Kremlin has denied.

He also claimed Russia was being run by a “regime of murderers” in a CNN interview, broadcast hours earlier than his arrest.

The costs towards Mr Kara-Murza relate to a speech given to the Arizona House of Representatives in March, wherein he denounced Russia’s navy motion in Ukraine and claimed troopers had been “dropping cluster bombs on residential areas, mothers’ homes, hospitals, and schools”.

He was declared a “foreign agent” and accused of spreading false info within the aftermath of the speech.

Investigators added a treason cost, which carries a sentence of as much as 20 years in Russia, whereas he was in custody over public speeches he had made in Lisbon, Helsinki and Washington.

Mr Kara-Murza, who was as soon as deputy chief of the opposition group People’s Freedom Party, is the present vice chairman of the pro-democracy and human rights group Open Russia.

He was an ally of the late Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot lifeless close to the Kremlin in 2015.

Mr Kara-Murza and his supporters say he has twice survived being poisoned previously – as soon as in 2015 and once more in 2017 – although Russian authorities have denied any involvement.