The wife of jailed Russian-British journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza said on Thursday (Apr 11) that she feared that her husband would meet the same fate as late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The wife of jailed Russian-British journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza said on Thursday (Apr 11) that she feared that her husband would meet the same fate as late Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. It has been two years since Kara-Murza, 42, was detained in Moscow and later sentenced to 25 years on treason and other trumped-up charges. Kara-Murza was among the few opposition figures who chose to stay in Russia. He survived two poisoning attempts. Speaking to The Guardian, Kara-Murza's wife Evgenia, who lives in the US with their three children, said, "He believes it was his duty to be in Russia and continue to stand with those who fight the regime. He wanted to share the risks with other Russians bravely fighting Putin’s rule. And he continues to talk about it behind bars." 'His spirit remains strong' Evgenia said that her husband had spent the last six months in isolation in a punishment cell known by its Russian initials as an EPKT. “Their goal is to isolate him from the world. But his spirit remains strong,” she added and expressed concerns about Kara-Murza's health, pointing out he has lost 25 kilogrammes since the time he was jailed. Also read | Explained: Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza, the Kremlin critic jailed for 25 years Evgenia also told The Guardian that Navalny's death was a reminder that dozens of other ill political prisoners may be at risk of death from deliberate abuse. “I fear about his life every day,” she added. American lawmakers urge Kara-Murza's release Evgenia's remarks came as American lawmakers on Tuesday (April 9), members of US Congress called for the immediate release of Kara-Murza, the news agency Associated Press reported. In an event on Capitol Hill, Ben Cardin, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said, "The bottom line is that Vladimir Kara-Murza will not be forgotten." "We are going to work to set him free and to set Russia free,” Cardin added. Also watch | Anti-Kremlin hackers target Russia, 'avenge Navalny's death' × Meanwhile, Senator Jim Risch, the top Republican on the committee, renewed his call for US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Kara-Murza as a “wrongfully detained person,” an appointment that would help elevate his case and provide resources to his family in the US as they fight for his release. (With inputs from agencies)

Wife of Russian-British journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza fears he will meet same fate as Alexei Navalny

In the wake of Alexei Navalny's death in an Arctic penal colony last month, the wife of jailed Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza raised alarm on Monday (Mar 25), warning that the lives of many political prisoners in Russia, including her husband's, were at risk.

Last April, Kara-Murza, who had condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and campaigned for Western sanctions against Moscow, was sentenced to 25 years on charges of treason and other offences that he denied. He compared the case against him to a Stalinist show trial, marking the harshest sentence imposed on an opposition politician since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

"I understand that lives of many people who ended up behind bars today because of their opposition to the regime, many lives are in danger," Evgenia Kara-Murza, advocacy director at the Free Russia Foundation, a civil society organisation said, as quoted by Reuters.&nbsp;

"That is not just my husband's life who is indeed a years-long opponent of the regime, but also the lives of strong and vocal opponents of Vladimir Putin," she added.

Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critic within Russia, died at the age of 47 in a prison camp on February 16. His death ignited accusations from his supporters, alleging foul play. However, the Kremlin has vehemently denied any state involvement in his death.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-says-he-approved-prisoner-swap-involving-alexei-navalny-before-his-death-701272">Also read |&nbsp;Putin says he approved prisoner swap involving Alexei Navalny before his death</a>

<h2>Concerns for other activists</h2>

Evgenia Kara-Murza expressed concern for other activists, including Alexandra Skochilenko, who was imprisoned for protesting against the war in Ukraine by replacing supermarket price tags with anti-war messages, and Alexei Gorinov, a Moscow district councillor incarcerated for criticising Russia's invasion. These individuals, like her husband, are deemed to be at risk.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, who suffers from a neurological condition following two instances of poisoning attempts, was relocated to a new penal colony in Siberia in January and placed in solitary confinement, according to his wife's statement.

"Now he's being held by basically the same people who tried to kill him twice in the past," Evgenia Kara-Murza said.

Also watch |&nbsp;How did Navalny die?

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-did-navalny-die-693610/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

She mentioned that her husband is confined in a compact cell measuring approximately six square metres,&nbsp;furnished with a wall-mounted bed during the day to discourage lying down, and equipped with a single backless stool. He is prohibited from receiving phone calls or visitors. Before his relocation last December, Kara-Murza had a brief telephone exchange with his three children.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

In the wake of Alexei Navalny's death in an Arctic penal colony last month, the wife of jailed Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza raised alarm on Monday (Mar 25), warning that the lives of many political prisoners in Russia, including her husband's, were at risk.

In the wake of Alexei Navalny's death in an Arctic penal colony last month, the wife of jailed Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza raised alarm on Monday (Mar 25), warning that the lives of many political prisoners in Russia, including her husband's, were at risk. Last April, Kara-Murza, who had condemned Russia's war in Ukraine and campaigned for Western sanctions against Moscow, was sentenced to 25 years on charges of treason and other offences that he denied. He compared the case against him to a Stalinist show trial, marking the harshest sentence imposed on an opposition politician since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. "I understand that lives of many people who ended up behind bars today because of their opposition to the regime, many lives are in danger," Evgenia Kara-Murza, advocacy director at the Free Russia Foundation, a civil society organisation said, as quoted by Reuters. "That is not just my husband's life who is indeed a years-long opponent of the regime, but also the lives of strong and vocal opponents of Vladimir Putin," she added. Navalny, President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken critic within Russia, died at the age of 47 in a prison camp on February 16. His death ignited accusations from his supporters, alleging foul play. However, the Kremlin has vehemently denied any state involvement in his death. Also read | Putin says he approved prisoner swap involving Alexei Navalny before his death Concerns for other activists Evgenia Kara-Murza expressed concern for other activists, including Alexandra Skochilenko, who was imprisoned for protesting against the war in Ukraine by replacing supermarket price tags with anti-war messages, and Alexei Gorinov, a Moscow district councillor incarcerated for criticising Russia's invasion. These individuals, like her husband, are deemed to be at risk. Vladimir Kara-Murza, who suffers from a neurological condition following two instances of poisoning attempts, was relocated to a new penal colony in Siberia in January and placed in solitary confinement, according to his wife's statement. "Now he's being held by basically the same people who tried to kill him twice in the past," Evgenia Kara-Murza said. Also watch | How did Navalny die? She mentioned that her husband is confined in a compact cell measuring approximately six square metres, furnished with a wall-mounted bed during the day to discourage lying down, and equipped with a single backless stool. He is prohibited from receiving phone calls or visitors. Before his relocation last December, Kara-Murza had a brief telephone exchange with his three children. (With inputs from agencies)

After Navalny’s death, wife of another Putin critic fears for his safety

Britain has imposed sanctions on Russian judges and prosecutors involved in the trial of the Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who holds a dual citizenship - Russia and Britain. He lost his appeal against his 25-year jail sentence on Monday.

UK sanctions Russian judges, prosecutors; include asset freeze & travel bans | World News | WION

Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza on Monday (July 31) lost an appeal against his 25-year-long treason sentence, according to a report by the RIA state news agency.

Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza on Monday (July 31) lost an appeal against his 25-year-long treason sentence, according to a report by the RIA state news agency. Kara-Murza, 41, was jailed for 25 years for treason and spreading "false information" about the ongoing war in Ukraine. He received the longest sentence against a Russian opposition figure in recent years, drawing immediate condemnation from Western countries. "The verdict of the Moscow City Court from April 17 shall be left unchanged," a Russian court said on Monday. The 41-year-old is one of a small number of prominent opposition figures who stayed in Russia and continued to speak out against President Vladimir Putin after Moscow launched its offensive in Ukraine in February last year. Kara-Murza was jailed two months after the war started, and he was accused of spreading false information about the armed forces and declared a "foreign agent". In his last words in court in April, Kara-Murza stood by his political work, including his comments on the offensive in Ukraine. Kara-Murza's health worsens in prison Kara-Murza survived two poisoning attempts in 2015 and 2017. The opposition leader claimed the poisonings were orchestrated by Russian security services. He fell into a coma on both occasions before eventually recovering. Moscow has denied any involvement in the incidents He suffers from a nerve condition called polyneuropathy, which his lawyers say is due to the poisoning attempts. The condition has worsened in prison, one of his lawyers said. Days back, Russian prosecutors requested a jail term of 20 years for the already imprisoned Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who also condemned the war in Ukraine. Navalny, who is Putin's most prominent critic, is expected to hear his verdict on August 4. Navalny was arrested in 2021 on his arrival in Moscow from Germany, where he had been recovering from a poisoning attack that he blamed on Kremlin. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Russian opposition leader Kara-Murza loses appeal against treason sentence

A Moscow court jailed kremlin critic for 25 years after a trial he and the west said was politically motivated. Vladimir Kara-Murza holds Russian & UK passports. The kremlin critic had lobbied western governments for sanctions & individual Russians for purported rights violations. The ministry accused the envoys of interference in Russia's internal affairs & activity incompatible with diplomatic status. The 3 ambassadors had made a joint appearance in front of tv cameras on the steps of the Moscow court to condemn the verdict against Kara-Murza. UK envoy Deborah Bronnert delivered her remarks in Russian so that Russian-language channels could potentially broadcast them. In a statement, the ministry called Bronnert's remarks inappropriate & provocative. The statement added the ambassador's remarks ran counter to the British Embassy's status & diplomatic norms. Russia warned US envoy that it would quash attempts to incite discord.

Russia summons US, UK and Canada envoys | Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza jailed for 25 years

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic, has been jailed for 25 years on charges including treason over criticism of Russia's offensive against its neighbour Ukraine. The 41-year-old's high-profile trial is the latest in a string of cases targeting those critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. As per AFP, the crackdown has worsened since Putin ordered Russian troops to begin a military offensive 14 months back.

Charges against Kara-Murza include treason, spreading "false" information about the Russian army, and affiliation with an "undesirable organisation."&nbsp;

Following a closed-door trial, he has been found guilty of all charges. The Kremlin critic has been sentenced to 25 years in a strict regime penal colony.

Here's all you need to know about Vladimir Kara-Murza:

<h2>Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza?</h2>

He is a historian, a journalist and an opposition politician. The Kremlin critic is a dual citizen and holds Russian and British passports.

Kara-Murza was a close associate of Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Russian President Putin,&nbsp;who was assassinated on February 27, 2015.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-critic-vladimir-kara-murza-charged-with-treason-by-russian-court-583272">Putin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza charged with treason by Russian court</a>

Nemtsov was a stringent critic of the Putin government, which he viewed as an increasingly authoritarian, undemocratic regime. He was killed after being hit by four bullets, which were reportedly shot from the back.&nbsp;In the weeks before his death, he had even expressed a fear that Putin would have him killed.

Vladimir Kara-Murza is also a known close associate of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oligarch turned Putin critic.

<h2>Did Kara-Murza face any "assassination attempts"?</h2>

In 2015 and then again in 2017, the Kremlin critic suddenly fell ill. Both times,&nbsp;his condition worsened to the point of him slipping into a coma.&nbsp;As per the Guardian, he nearly died from kidney failure in the first attempt on his life.

Kara-Murza alleges that he was poisoned by the Russian security services. However, Russian authorities deny any involvement in the incidents.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-minister-meets-putin-says-willing-to-work-with-russian-military-to-have-close-communications-583151">Chinese minister meets Putin, says willing to work with Russian military to have close communications</a>

Reuters reports that even today Kara-Murza is suffering the effects of the alleged poisonings. As per his lawyers, the Kremlin critic is plagued by a nerve condition called polyneuropathy, which was triggered due to the said assassination attempts.

<h2>Did he flee Russia after these "attempts" on his life?</h2>

AFP reports that almost all of Putin's best-known political opponents and critics have either fled the country or, like another prominent Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny, are in jail; a fate that Kara-Murza now faces.

He is one of the small numbers of Putin's opposition politicians who remained active in Russia, even after the nation invaded its neighbour country and the resulting Ukraine war.

<h2>Kara-Murza's criticism of Putin and the Ukraine war</h2>

The politician has been a vocal critic of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the get-go. He even launched an anti-war committee with fellow leading Russian opposition figures.

Kara-Murza infamously described the Kremlin as a "regime of murderers."

In April 2022, appearing on CNN, he said: "I have absolutely no doubt that the Putin regime will end over this war in Ukraine, doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen tomorrow. The two main questions are time and price, and by price, I do not mean monetary – I mean the price of human blood and human lives and it has already been horrendous, but the Putin regime will end over this and there will be a democratic Russia after Putin."

Watch |&nbsp;How important is cyber warfare in Russia-Ukraine conflict

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<h2>When was he arrested? What charges were imposed against him?</h2>

Kara-Murza was arrested on April 11, 2022, on charges of disobeying police orders and faced up to 15 days in jail or a small fine. However, the arrest came hours after he referred to Putin's government as "a regime of murderers."

Subsequently, on April 22, 2022, he was charged by a Russian court for spreading "false" information about the Russian troops. The charges were reportedly imposed for his March 15 speech to the Arizona House of Representatives, in which he denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was declared a "foreign agent" for his statement.

In July, new charges of cooperating with an "undesirable" foreign NGO were added, which comes with up to six years in prison. In October, for public speeches he made in Lisbon, Helsinki and Washington, he was charged with treason, a crime that carries up to 20 years in prison.

<h2>How did the Kremlin critic respond to the charges levied against him?</h2>

As per a copy of the speech Kara-Murza delivered to the court where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the Kremlin critic said he has done nothing wrong and that he was "proud" of his words.

"I subscribe to every word that I have said, that I am incriminated for today," he said as per comments published by veteran journalist Alexei Venediktov.&nbsp;

"Not only do I not repent for any of it — I am proud of it," he added.

"Criminals are supposed to repent of what they have done. I, on the other hand, am in prison for my political views. I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate," said Kara-Murza, who has described the entire case against him as being based on "political vengeance" and compared the proceedings to Josef Stalin's show trials of the 1930s&nbsp;— held between by the Soviet Union between 1936 and 1938. Defendants were Old Bolshevik Party leaders and top officials of the Soviet secret police,&nbsp;these trials&nbsp;are often seen as a great purge to rid of Stalin's opposition in the party.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic, has been jailed for 25 years on charges including treason over criticism of Russia's offensive against its neighbour Ukraine.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic, has been jailed for 25 years on charges including treason over criticism of Russia's offensive against its neighbour Ukraine. The 41-year-old's high-profile trial is the latest in a string of cases targeting those critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. As per AFP, the crackdown has worsened since Putin ordered Russian troops to begin a military offensive 14 months back. Charges against Kara-Murza include treason, spreading "false" information about the Russian army, and affiliation with an "undesirable organisation." Following a closed-door trial, he has been found guilty of all charges. The Kremlin critic has been sentenced to 25 years in a strict regime penal colony. Here's all you need to know about Vladimir Kara-Murza: Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza? He is a historian, a journalist and an opposition politician. The Kremlin critic is a dual citizen and holds Russian and British passports. Kara-Murza was a close associate of Boris Nemtsov, an outspoken critic of Russian President Putin, who was assassinated on February 27, 2015. Also read | Putin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza charged with treason by Russian court Nemtsov was a stringent critic of the Putin government, which he viewed as an increasingly authoritarian, undemocratic regime. He was killed after being hit by four bullets, which were reportedly shot from the back. In the weeks before his death, he had even expressed a fear that Putin would have him killed. Vladimir Kara-Murza is also a known close associate of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oligarch turned Putin critic. Did Kara-Murza face any "assassination attempts"? In 2015 and then again in 2017, the Kremlin critic suddenly fell ill. Both times, his condition worsened to the point of him slipping into a coma. As per the Guardian, he nearly died from kidney failure in the first attempt on his life. Kara-Murza alleges that he was poisoned by the Russian security services. However, Russian authorities deny any involvement in the incidents. Also read | Chinese minister meets Putin, says willing to work with Russian military to have close communications Reuters reports that even today Kara-Murza is suffering the effects of the alleged poisonings. As per his lawyers, the Kremlin critic is plagued by a nerve condition called polyneuropathy, which was triggered due to the said assassination attempts. Did he flee Russia after these "attempts" on his life? AFP reports that almost all of Putin's best-known political opponents and critics have either fled the country or, like another prominent Kremlin critic, Alexei Navalny, are in jail; a fate that Kara-Murza now faces. He is one of the small numbers of Putin's opposition politicians who remained active in Russia, even after the nation invaded its neighbour country and the resulting Ukraine war. Kara-Murza's criticism of Putin and the Ukraine war The politician has been a vocal critic of the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the get-go. He even launched an anti-war committee with fellow leading Russian opposition figures. Kara-Murza infamously described the Kremlin as a "regime of murderers." In April 2022, appearing on CNN, he said: "I have absolutely no doubt that the Putin regime will end over this war in Ukraine, doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen tomorrow. The two main questions are time and price, and by price, I do not mean monetary – I mean the price of human blood and human lives and it has already been horrendous, but the Putin regime will end over this and there will be a democratic Russia after Putin." Watch | How important is cyber warfare in Russia-Ukraine conflict When was he arrested? What charges were imposed against him? Kara-Murza was arrested on April 11, 2022, on charges of disobeying police orders and faced up to 15 days in jail or a small fine. However, the arrest came hours after he referred to Putin's government as "a regime of murderers." Subsequently, on April 22, 2022, he was charged by a Russian court for spreading "false" information about the Russian troops. The charges were reportedly imposed for his March 15 speech to the Arizona House of Representatives, in which he denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was declared a "foreign agent" for his statement. In July, new charges of cooperating with an "undesirable" foreign NGO were added, which comes with up to six years in prison. In October, for public speeches he made in Lisbon, Helsinki and Washington, he was charged with treason, a crime that carries up to 20 years in prison. How did the Kremlin critic respond to the charges levied against him? As per a copy of the speech Kara-Murza delivered to the court where he was sentenced to 25 years in prison, the Kremlin critic said he has done nothing wrong and that he was "proud" of his words. "I subscribe to every word that I have said, that I am incriminated for today," he said as per comments published by veteran journalist Alexei Venediktov. "Not only do I not repent for any of it — I am proud of it," he added. "Criminals are supposed to repent of what they have done. I, on the other hand, am in prison for my political views. I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate," said Kara-Murza, who has described the entire case against him as being based on "political vengeance" and compared the proceedings to Josef Stalin's show trials of the 1930s — held between by the Soviet Union between 1936 and 1938. Defendants were Old Bolshevik Party leaders and top officials of the Soviet secret police, these trials are often seen as a great purge to rid of Stalin's opposition in the party. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

WION Explains | Who is Vladimir Kara-Murza, the Kremlin critic jailed for 25 years

A Russian opposition politician who fell into a coma due to poisoning this month has left the country for treatment abroad after his condition improved, his lawyer said Sunday.

&quot;This morning Vladimir Kara-Murza flew out of the country... to go through rehabilitation treatment after his second acute poisoning,&quot; lawyer Vadim Prokhorov wrote on his Facebook page.

&quot;The diagnosis in his hospital discharge report is still the same: &#39;toxic influence of an unknown substance&#39;,&quot; he added.

Kara-Murza, 35, previously experienced sharp deterioration of health due to poisoning two years ago, which included kidney failure and nearly killed him.&nbsp;

Tests in laboratories abroad found high levels of heavy metals in his blood, but the Russian Investigative Committee denied his request to probe whether he was a target of intentional poisoning.&nbsp;

His family said that the latest collapse, which saw him put on a ventilator and renal dialysis in a Russian hospital, could be a result of the 2015 incident.

Kara-Murza was an ally of the late opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead close to the Kremlin in February 2015.&nbsp;

He currently works with the Open Russia foundation of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon who served 10 years in jail after openly opposing President Vladimir Putin.

Prokhorov said that Kara-Murza plans to continue his political work. The lawyer said that most likely Kara-Murza was intentionally poisoned.

Besides his work with Khodorkovsky, Kara-Murza has been deeply involved in lobbying in the United States for the expansion of the Magnitsky Act, which Prokhorov said &quot;could be one of the reasons&quot; for the poisoning because it targets Russian elites.&nbsp;

The 2012 sanctions list originally targeted Russian officials involved in the case of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in prison after uncovering a government corruption scheme.

Since it was passed it has been expanded to include other individuals, including the Russian Investigative Committee chief Alexander Bastrykin, who was added only in January.

(AFP) 
&nbsp;

Kara-Murza was an ally of the late opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead close to the Kremlin in February 2015

A Russian opposition politician who fell into a coma due to poisoning this month has left the country for treatment abroad after his condition improved, his lawyer said Sunday. "This morning Vladimir Kara-Murza flew out of the country... to go through rehabilitation treatment after his second acute poisoning," lawyer Vadim Prokhorov wrote on his Facebook page. "The diagnosis in his hospital discharge report is still the same: 'toxic influence of an unknown substance'," he added. Kara-Murza, 35, previously experienced sharp deterioration of health due to poisoning two years ago, which included kidney failure and nearly killed him. Tests in laboratories abroad found high levels of heavy metals in his blood, but the Russian Investigative Committee denied his request to probe whether he was a target of intentional poisoning. His family said that the latest collapse, which saw him put on a ventilator and renal dialysis in a Russian hospital, could be a result of the 2015 incident. Kara-Murza was an ally of the late opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead close to the Kremlin in February 2015. He currently works with the Open Russia foundation of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon who served 10 years in jail after openly opposing President Vladimir Putin. Prokhorov said that Kara-Murza plans to continue his political work. The lawyer said that most likely Kara-Murza was intentionally poisoned. Besides his work with Khodorkovsky, Kara-Murza has been deeply involved in lobbying in the United States for the expansion of the Magnitsky Act, which Prokhorov said "could be one of the reasons" for the poisoning because it targets Russian elites. The 2012 sanctions list originally targeted Russian officials involved in the case of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky who died in prison after uncovering a government corruption scheme. Since it was passed it has been expanded to include other individuals, including the Russian Investigative Committee chief Alexander Bastrykin, who was added only in January. (AFP)

Putin critic leaves Russia for treatment after 'poisoning'