The European Union (EU) this Monday strongly condemned the 25-year prison sentence handed down by a Russian court to opponent Vladimir Kara-Murza, deeming it “excessively harsh” and based on “politically motivated charges”.
“The EU strongly condemns the decision of a Moscow court to sentence opposition politician, democracy activist and outspoken Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison on politically motivated charges.” reads a statement by the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy.
According to Josep Borrell, “Today’s outrageously harsh ruling of the court once again clearly demonstrates the political abuse of judicial power to pressure activists, human rights defenders and all voices opposed to Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine”.
The head of European diplomacy notes that “this process fell short of international standards of a fair and public hearing by a competent, impartial and independent court”, not least because “the hearings were not open to observers”.
“In his final statement to the court, Vladimir Kara-Murza said his trial resembled the show trials of the 1930s,” Borrell added.
In the same statement, the head of European diplomacy called on Moscow to “immediately and unconditionally release all those arrested on politically motivated charges”.
“We also urge Russia to repeal its oppressive legislation, including laws censoring truthful information about Russia’s war against Ukraine, and laws about so-called ‘foreign agents’ and ‘undesirable organizations’ used only to publicize society. to suppress civil society and independent voices,” the statement concludes.
A Moscow court today sentenced Russian opposition activist and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison on various charges, including high treason.reported the international press.
After a trial behind closed doors, the court found Kara-Murza guilty of “high treason”, spreading “false information” about the Russian army and illegal work for an “undesirable organization”, according to a journalist. from the bureau of AFP news.
“I know the day will come when the darkness that covers our land will disappear and our society will open its eyes and shudder when it realizes the terrible crimes committed in its name”
The opponent has been sentenced to a cumulative sentence of 25 years in a penal colony, which entails stricter prison conditions.
In his latest statement, last week, Kara-Murza said he was still proud to run against Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I know that a day will come when the darkness that covers our land will disappear and our society will open its eyes and shiver when it realizes the terrible crimes committed in its name,” Kara-Murza said in published messages . Russian opposition social media and media.
Kara-Murza, who has been in custody since April 2022, was apparently the target of two assassination attempts, in 2015 and 2017, which he attributes to Russian authorities.
The opponent denied the allegations, deeming them of a political nature, and compared the legal proceedings he faces with the trials during the reign of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
Russia has passed a law criminalizing the dissemination of “false information” about its respective armed forces shortly after the deployment of troops in Ukraine, following the invasion of the neighboring country, on February 24, 2022.
Authorities are using the law to quash criticism of what the Kremlin calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Kara-Murza was close to Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated outside the Kremlin in 2015.
Source: DN
