Moscow [Russia], April 18: Prominent Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza was sentenced on Monday by a Moscow court to 25 years in prison for treason, the highest sentence ever handed down to an opposition figure in Russia.
The 41-year-old, who has survived several poison attacks, has sharply criticized Russia's war on Ukraine and is considered one of the harshest critics of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prosecutors had demanded the long sentence at the beginning of April. According to Kara-Murza's lawyer, Maria Eismont, the politician is in poor health. She said that her client had lost 17 kilograms while in custody.
Kara-Murza was also accused of discrediting the Russian army. State media, citing investigative circles, had alleged that the former journalist had helped organizations from NATO countries undermine Russia's national security in return for a monthly payment of around $32,800.
Twice, the prominent Putin critic only narrowly survived mysterious poisonings. According to research by the investigative group Bellingcat, Kara-Murza was pursued by the same agents of the domestic intelligence agency FSB who were allegedly involved in the poison attack on opposition figure Alexei Navalny. Last year, Kara-Murza won the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize. He dedicated the prize to all those in Russia who opposed the war in Ukraine.
The European Union "strongly condemns" the 25-year sentence, the EU's top diplomat JosepBorrell said in a statement on Monday. The "outrageously harsh court decision clearly demonstrates yet again the political misuse of the judiciary to pressure activists, human rights defenders and any voices opposing Russia's illegitimate war of aggression against Ukraine," Borrell's statement read.The diplomat added that the trial against Kara-Murza fell short of international standards for fair and independent proceedings. The EU calls "on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned for politically motivated charges," he noted, adding that the bloc stands in solidarity with those fighting for human rights in Russia.
Source: Qatar Tribune