Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza has stood by all his political statements, including his criticism of the Ukrainian offensive and President Vladimir Putin, despite facing charges that could result in 25 years of imprisonment. Speaking to the court, Kara-Murza said that he subscribes to every word he has said that he is being accused of today. He emphasized his fight against the Ukraine offensive and his opposition to Putin, stating that he is proud of his views and does not regret any of his statements. The court proceeding was published on journalist Alexei Venediktov’s Telegram channel.
Kara-Murza is a 41-year-old journalist who was educated in the West. He is accused of several charges, including treason and spreading false information about the Russian army. His high-profile trial is the latest in a series of cases against opposition voices in Russia, a crackdown that has intensified since Putin sent troops to Ukraine in 2022. Prosecutors have called for a 25-year sentence against him. The verdict is expected next Monday.
Despite facing severe charges, Kara-Murza does not regret his political activities. He says that he only blames himself for failing to convince enough of his compatriots and politicians in democratic countries of the danger that the current Kremlin regime poses for Russia and the world. Kara-Murza was a close associate of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead near the Kremlin in 2015. Kara-Murza said that he is proud of the fact that Nemtsov brought him into politics, and he hopes that Nemtsov is not ashamed of him.
Kara-Murza has faced challenges beyond the courtroom. He says that he was poisoned twice in 2015 and 2017 because of his political activities. Despite this, he continued to spend long periods of time in Russia. His condition has worsened in prison, according to his lawyer, Vadim Prokhorov.
Kara-Murza is optimistic about the future of his country, stating that the darkness over Russia will dissipate one day. He hopes that the ones who instigated and started the war in Ukraine will be branded as criminals, and not those who tried to stop it. He believes that he is paying the price for non-silence in Russia now, but he stands firm in his convictions.
