The spouse of a twin British-Russian citizen jailed for treason says she is “terrified for his life” however will “fight for him for as long as it takes”.
Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza was jailed on Monday for 25 years after a Moscow courtroom convicted him of treason and different offences – fees he denies.
His spouse, Evgenia Kara-Murza, instructed Sky News: “I know what my husband is fighting for.
“Believe me, I’m terrified for his life and I do know that our youngsters are terrified for his or her father, however I perceive what he is combating for and I’ll do every little thing I can to boost consciousness about what is going on in Russia within the context of the battle in Ukraine.
“I want to do everything I can to show the world that there’s a very close connection between internal repression and external aggression – they go hand in hand.”
Speaking from the US, Mrs Kara-Murza mentioned she had not been shocked by the severity of her husband’s sentence, as he had been portrayed by the Russian authorities “as a traitor…seen as a personal enemy (who) needs to be locked up for quarter of a century to stop him continuing with his work”.
Mr Kara-Murza, 41, is a father of three and former journalist who was as soon as deputy chief of the opposition group People’s Freedom Party.
He is the vice chairman of the pro-democracy and human rights group Open Russia and his supporters say he has already survived poisoning makes an attempt in 2015 and 2017, though Russian authorities have denied any involvement in these.
‘I’m married to an unbelievable man’
Mrs Kara-Murza instructed Sky News that she was “holding up” following his jail sentence “because I am married to an incredible man, I know that.
“He has my utmost respect and admiration and I’ll battle for him for so long as it takes.
“I will fight for my kids’ father and I will do everything I can to bring him home to them.”
‘Extreme stage of repression’
But, regardless of what had occurred to her husband and the “extreme level of repression” getting used towards Russians, she insisted change was attainable.
“I know what my husband is fighting for, I know how important it is to him and to many Russians to see a different Russia.
“I do know that he believes we deserve higher and I full agree with him, and I share his conviction that that is attainable – a special Russia is feasible.
Pic: Moscow City Court/Reuters
‘A distinct Russia’
“It’s just that we need to work to do everything we can to bring close the day this regime collapses, and we get a chance to build that different Russia.”
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She added: “As long as there is an authoritarian and totalitarian regime in the country, Russia will continue being a threat to itself and its neighbours.
“The solely approach for Russia to cease being a menace to everyone seems to be for it to change into a democracy. In order for that to occur, Putin’s energy must collapse.”
She called on supporters to back the work of journalists, human rights activists and the lawyers representing them, saying: “Everything must be achieved now to weaken the regime and to create circumstances for the Russian inhabitants in order that they realise they’ll really change one thing.”
Content Source: information.sky.com