Russian opposition politician sentenced to 25 years in prison

The Moscow City Court sentenced politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in a high-security penal colony.

Kara-Murza was found guilty of spreading “fake” information about the Russian army, engaging in activities of a “undesirable organization,” and treason. The journalist did not admit his guilt.

At the court session in Moscow, where the verdict for Vladimir Kara-Murza was announced, 40 foreign diplomats from 25 countries, including the USA, Canada, the UK, EU countries, New Zealand, and Australia, arrived. However, they were not allowed into the courtroom. The diplomats watched the live broadcast from the courtroom while in another room.

After the verdict was announced, the diplomats condemned the court’s decision, emphasizing that they would continue to demand the release of Vladimir Kara-Murza.

41-year-old Vladimir Kara-Murza was detained in April 2022 in the courtyard of his home “for disobeying a police officer” and was placed under arrest for 15 days. During this time, a criminal case was initiated against him.

It later became known that the reason for the journalist’s detention was Kara-Murza’s speech in the Arizona House of Representatives on March 15, 2022, where he mentioned “bombing residential areas, hospitals, and schools” in Ukraine.

On April 22, 2022, when the journalist was already in custody, the Ministry of Justice added Vladimir Kara-Murza to the list of individuals—foreign agents. He was later accused of collaborating with a “undesirable organization” and treason.

According to the investigation, the politician allegedly provided assistance to organizations from NATO member countries for $30,000 a month, aimed against the security of Russia, for many years.

Lawyer Vadim Prokhorov stated that the treason case was initiated due to Kara-Murza’s speeches at public events in Lisbon, Helsinki, and Washington, where he spoke about political persecution, elections, and censorship in Russia.

It has been reported that the politician’s health has significantly deteriorated recently.

International organizations have called for the immediate release of the politician.