Yashin turned to Biden with a request to secure the release of Kara-Murza

Russian oppositionist Ilya Yashin, who is in a colony in the Smolensk region, has called on world leaders to seek the speedy release of the second oppositionist, Vladimir Kara-Murza, from the Russian authorities. In a text published on social networks, Yashin writes that after the death of Alexei Navalny in the colony (Yashin calls it a murder), “the fate of Kara-Murza causes special concern.”

Yashin draws parallels between the activities of Navalny and Kara-Murza, noting that both of them “created personal problems” for the entourage of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The oppositionist also notes that “Putin had previously tried to kill both of them.” This refers to the attempt to poison Navalny in 2020 and two alleged attempts to poison Kara-Murza in 2015 and 2017, when he was in intensive care with similar symptoms and a diagnosis of “toxic exposure to an unspecified substance.”

“I understand that my words are the voice of someone crying out into the wilderness. But Vladimir Kara-Murza must be saved. The threat to his life is not just real, it is staggering,” writes Yashin. He appeals to the leadership of the UN, to the president of the USA, to the leaders of the EU countries with an appeal to “use all diplomatic tools to achieve the speedy release of Kara-Murza.”

• In April 2023, Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in a penal colony under the articles of treason, cooperation with an undesirable organization and fakes about the Russian army. Russian courts recognize reports about the war in Ukraine that do not coincide with the Kremlin’s version as fakes. Kara-Murza is serving a term in IK-7 of the Omsk region. The politician has, in addition to Russian, British citizenship. In addition, he has a permanent residence permit in the USA.
• In 2022, Ilya Yashin was sentenced to eight years in prison on the article about fakes about the army. He is serving his sentence in a colony in the Smolensk region.
• Yashin and Kara-Murza are among the most famous Russian oppositionists who have been deprived of their freedom. They do not admit guilt and consider their affairs to be political. Human rights organizations recognized them as political prisoners.