Kara-Murze’s sentence is upheld

The first appellate court upheld the sentence – 25 years in a strict regime colony – of the politician and public figure Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was convicted on charges of treason, so-called fakes about the army and participation in the activities of an “undesirable organization”. This is reported by TASS.

The verdict of Kara-Murze was previously handed down by the Moscow City Court in a closed trial. The appeal was not satisfied. Colleagues of the opposition noted that he was given the maximum possible term. Already after the initiation of the case against Kara-Murza, the punishment under the article on treason was increased to life.

The charges against Vladimir Kara-Murza were related to his anti-war speeches, including abroad. He was arrested in April 2022 – initially on charges of spreading fakes about the army. Then the charge of treason was added.

• The oppositionist did not admit guilt, calling his persecution politically motivated. Kara-Murza’s colleagues believe that the criminal cases against him are the Kremlin’s revenge for his public activity. In particular, the oppositionist was one of those who achieved the adoption of the “Magnitsky Act”, which provides for a ban on entry into the United States and the freezing of assets for representatives of the Russian government responsible for gross violations of human rights.
• The Council of Europe, as well as Western countries, called on the Kremlin to release Kara-Murza. In early June, the European Union imposed sanctions against nine Russian citizens who took part in the process against the politician. Among them are the Deputy Minister of Justice of Russia Oleg Svyridenko, who is responsible for the implementation of the legislation on “foreign agents”, judges and the head of pre-trial detention center No. 5. Great Britain introduced similar sanctions.