A Washington Post contributor and Russian opposition activist has been sentenced to 25 years in a Russian prison for his commentary criticizing Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Kara-Murza’s sentence is, to date, the harshest handed down to an invasion critic.
Kara-Murza was convicted of treason, among other charges related to his activism.
“I’m in jail for my political views,” Kara-Murza said in his final statement during his trial. “For speaking out against the war in Ukraine. For many years of struggle against Putin’s dictatorship. Not only do I not repent of any of this, I am proud of it.”
His arrest came last April after he spoke before the Arizona state legislature in America denouncing Russia’s invasion of and subsequent war against their neighboring nation.
The U.S. has called Kara-Murza’s imprisonment a “gross violation of human rights” and has already sanctioned Russia over the arrest.
Related
