One of Vladimir Putin’s largest critics has been jailed in Russia for 25 years after being discovered responsible of treason.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, 41, a father of three and former journalist who holds Russian and British passports, spent years as a politician opposing the Russian president.
He was accused of treason and of discrediting the navy by prosecutors after he criticised the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.
However, Mr Kara-Murza, who has stood by his phrases all through the trial, has criticised his prosecution.
The opposition chief, who claims to have twice been poisoned by Russian operatives, has beforehand in contrast his trial to one in every of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin’s present trials within the Nineteen Thirties.
Ukraine struggle newest – Kremlin critic jailed
He declined to ask the courtroom to acquit him and stated: “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,” he stated throughout his trial.
His 25-year sentence, which matches the sentence requested by prosecutors, is the harshest of its sort since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Under censorship legal guidelines, launched within the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, “discrediting” the military can presently be punished by as much as 5 years in jail.
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Spreading data deemed intentionally false concerning the Russian navy can entice a 15 yr jail sentence.
Mr Kara-Murza had used speeches within the United States and throughout Europe to accuse Moscow of bombing civilian targets in Ukraine – which the Kremlin has denied.
He additionally claimed Russia was being run by a “regime of murderers” in a CNN interview, broadcast hours earlier than his arrest.
The costs in opposition to Mr Kara-Murza relate to a speech given to the Arizona House of Representatives in March, by which he denounced Russia’s navy motion in Ukraine.
Investigators added the treason cost, which carries a sentence of as much as 20 years in Russia, whereas he was in custody.
Mr Kara-Murza was an ally of the late Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was shot lifeless close to the Kremlin in 2015.
Source: information.sky.com”