The 25-year prison sentence for Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza caused a wide resonance in western public information space – high-ranking politicians, journalists and human rights activists condemn Russia for this, adding that “Russia’s justice system has not changed much since Stalin’s rule”.
According to Latvia’s ambassador to Russia Māris Riekstiņš, the trial and verdict shows “the weakness of the current regime in Russia”. Saeima’s Foreign Affairs Committee’s chairman Rihards Kols concluded that the modern justice system in Russia has not changed much since Stalin’s era. Kols said he hopes “one day the darkness over Russia will dissipate”.
25 (Twenty.Five !!) years in prison given to @vkaramurza today after the “trial” closed to the public eyes clearly demonstrates the weakness of the current regime in Russia. Political opponents deserve freedom!
— Amb. Māris Riekstiņš (@Riekstins__M) April 17, 2023
After a year in prison, while facing 25-year sentence in a trial eerily similar to Stalin-era “justice” served by sham courts, @vkaramurza in his final statement shows courage and hope that one day the darkness over [Russia] will dissipate. https://t.co/x2zoDhyPxc https://t.co/dWBNO86AMq
— Rihards Kols (@RihardsKols) April 13, 2023
Manager of Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) Alīna Poļjakova compared Russia to North Korea.
“It’s quite concerning but I think what we are seeing in Russia is really the emergence of a North Korean-like government,” @apolyakova talks to @NewsHour about Vladimir Kara-Murza’s sentencing and what the cost of dissent is in Russia. pic.twitter.com/YE5w5uSoyF
— CEPA (@cepa) April 18, 2023
Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has imposed travel restrictions for ten Russian citizens “complicit in this sham case”, as Edgars Rinkēvičs wrote on Twitter.
Kara-Murza’s wife Yevgenia Kara-Murza thanked Latvia for support of her husband. She believes Latvia has thereby demonstrated to the world “who the real criminals are”.
I condemn unjust and harsh sentence against prominent Russian opposition politician @vkaramurza handed down by the Russian court today.
I have decided to impose travel ban ob 10 Russian individuals who are complicit in this sham case. I call on EU to impose sanctions as well
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) April 17, 2023
Deeply grateful to Latvia and @edgarsrinkevics for standing with my husband and sending a clear signal to the Russian authorities that you know who the real criminals are and will not let them get away with this. https://t.co/BpuHJVItGo
— Evgenia Kara-Murza (@ekaramurza) April 17, 2023
British billionaire Richard Branson voiced support for Kara-Murza as well. As did Nobel Prize nominee, Ukrainian Civic Freedoms Centre manager Oleksandra Matviichuk, US senator Roger Wicker and other celebrities and officials.
Since the moment of his arrest, @vkaramurza‘s wife @ekaramurza has fought for him.
In the wake of his conviction, we discussed his condition and prayed for his quick release. pic.twitter.com/tbwaZv7sGC
— Senator Roger Wicker (@SenatorWicker) April 17, 2023
The political process over Vladimir Kara-Murza ended today. He was sentenced to 25 years for the truth about the war crimes of the Russian army. We know that Putin’s regime will fall much sooner. But at this moment I want to express my sincere support to his wife Evgenia. pic.twitter.com/ZP65SuFBTg
— Oleksandra Matviichuk (@avalaina) April 17, 2023
Latvia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs Artis Pabriks wrote on Twitter that this verdict demonstrates “that Russia doesn’t care at all about the opinion of the West”.
Notiesājot musu daudzu draugu @vkaramurza uz 25 gadiem tikai par to, ka viņš iestājas par pamatbrīvībām, norāda, ka Krievijai nošpļauties par rietumu viedokli. Bet tas arī apliecina, ka Krievija nekad nav bijusi un īsti nebūs Eiropas civilizācija.
— Artis Pabriks (@Pabriks) April 18, 2023
I condemn the sentencing of my friend Vladimir Kara-Murza @vkaramurza to 25 years in prison & call for his immediate release. He is a brave & intelligent voice of reason opposing Putin’s inhuman regime & the aggression against ??. This sentence is yet another mockery of justice. pic.twitter.com/jW5hoVeLPw
— Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (@Tsihanouskaya) April 17, 2023
Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya comments that this sentence “is yet another mockery of justice”.
Journalist Uģis Lībietis said Kara-Murza’s final words to famous Latvian dissident Gunārs Astra. Kara-Murza said he was sentenced because he dared to oppose the war and for years of fighting Putin’s dictator regime.
The Telegraph foreign reporter Roland Oliphant shared his opinion about Kara-Murza, adding that he is “probably one of the bravest and stubbornest men” he has ever interview.
Viens no Kremļa asākajiem kritiķiem saņēmis 25 gadus ieslodzījumā! Starp citu, viņa pēdējā vārdā bija redzamas zināmas paralēles ar Gunāru Astru @LRZinas https://t.co/65QcewUDJs
— Ugis Libietis (@UgisLibietis) April 17, 2023
Vladimir Kara-Murza went back to Russia after they poisoned him. Twice. Probably one of the bravest (and stubbornest) men I’ve ever interviewed. https://t.co/cqmbNpqnql
— Roland Oliphant (@RolandOliphant) April 17, 2023
American writer and journalist Anna Applebaum wrote on Twitter that Kara-Murza “went to prison because he wanted the historical record to show someone dared to speak out against the war”.
BBC News Russian news editor Steve Rosenberg wrote that “they hate him so much that they need to lock him up for a quarter of a century”.
He went to prison because he wanted the historical record to show that someone dared to speak out against the war https://t.co/BZ0W1iklvH
— Anne Applebaum (@anneapplebaum) April 17, 2023
“They hate him so much that they need to lock him up for a quarter of a century.” We report from Moscow on the day Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza was sent to prison for 25 years. Producer @LizaShuvalova @BBCNews pic.twitter.com/jNSlPs2IXE
— Steve Rosenberg (@BBCSteveR) April 17, 2023
Alexei Navalny’s (yet another sentenced opposition member) press-secretary Kira Yarmish wrote that similarly to Navalny, Kara-Murza’s “prison sentence will last as long as Russia’s president has to live”. Leonid Volkov, another of Navalny’s associates, added that the prison sentence will last until Putin dies. Like Navalny, he wrote, Kara-Murza was poisoned several times.
Суд приговорил Владимира Кара-Мурзу к 25 годам колонии. Ни годом меньше, чем просил прокурор. Цифры в самом деле больше не имеют значения, все эти приговоры читаются как “пока Путин не умрет”. Владимиру сил и скорейшей свободы
— Кира Ярмыш (@Kira_Yarmysh) April 17, 2023
25 лет дали Кара-Мурзе за его политическую работу. За то, что он продавливал “закон Магнитского” по всему миру. Травили, а теперь закатали на всю жизнь. На всю оставшуюся жизнь Путина. То есть, надеюсь, не очень надолго.
— Leonid Volkov (@leonidvolkov) April 17, 2023
Latvian MEPs vars Ījabs and Sandra Kalniete are confident “Russia and its president will answer for their crimes to Ukraine, humanity and God”. Kalniete adds that although Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison, he will still be younger than Putin is now.
Vladimir #KaraMurza is a remarkable man. Putin poisoned him twice, but failed to break him. Now will try the same with prison. Yet even in 25 years, he will be younger than #Putin is now, who will answer for his crimes in front of people and God. https://t.co/XKxon6lD0r
— Sandra Kalniete (@Kalniete) April 17, 2023
Putina režīma “tiesnešiem”, “izmeklētājiem” un roklaižām reiz par visu būs jāatbild. Tikmēr mēs Eiropā varam uzlikt viņiem nopietnas sankcijas – ne tikai aizligumu iebraukt, bet arī mantas arestu. To prasām no Eiropas ārlietu vadītājiem. pic.twitter.com/IEMGo6DG75
— Ivars Ijabs (@ijabs) April 17, 2023
Ījabs said sanctions against Russia have to be tightened. Another MEP and former Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt agrees with his Latvian colleague.
This outrageous sentence against Kara-Murza and the worsening health situation of Navalny calls for a new package of Magnitsky sanctions against the Russian leadership and the civil servants responsible for it ! pic.twitter.com/UZa4lvpUZb
— Guy Verhofstadt (@guyverhofstadt) April 17, 2023
To make it very clear to the world that Putin has no intention of playing by any civilised rules, his courts have declared that fighting for democracy in Russia is treason. @vkaramurza‘s bravery must be honoured with sanctions against all involved in this persecution.
— Gabrielius Landsbergis?? (@GLandsbergis) April 17, 2023
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis proposed honouring “Kara-Murza’s bravery with sanctions against all involved in his persecution”. He also stresses that in Russia the term democracy is equal to the word treason.
Vladimir Kara-Murza was just sentenced with 25 years just for being an opposition politician.
All the people who are responsible for this outrageous sentencing must be sanctioned immediately.
Our thoughts are with you & your family @vkaramurza.
— Urmas Reinsalu (@UrmasReinsalu) April 17, 2023
Former Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu believes Kara-Murza was sentenced “for being an opposition politician”.
It was reported earlier this week that the Russian opposition politician was sentenced to 25 years in prison for treason and numerous other charges related to his criticism of the war in Ukraine.
Kara-Murza is the last on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s list of opponents, who have either been arrested, convicted or have fled Russia. Kara-Murza denied accusations and said he answers “for every word and is proud of it”. Previously he condemned the so-called special military operation in Ukraine and Putin’s regime.
He also has a large role in motivating the West in imposing more sanctions on Russia for crimes against humanity and corruption.
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