Britain sanctions six as Russia jails Putin critic for 25 years
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Vladimir Kara-Murza was being “persecuted by the Russian regime for his anti-war stance”.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON - Britain on Monday sanctioned “key figures involved in deplorable sentencing” of dual national dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza after a Russian court dismissed his appeal against a 25-year sentence.
London announced it had sanctioned six figures – three judges, two prosecutors and an expert witness – for their role in it called “his politically motivated targeting”.
They added that Kara-Murza was being “persecuted by the Russian regime for his anti-war stance”.
British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has called for the immediate release of the dual British national.
“The rejection of Vladimir Kara-Murza’s appeal following his sentencing on bogus charges highlights the depravity of the Russian regime,” said Mr Cleverly.
“Today we’ve sanctioned six people connected with his case, sending a clear message that the UK will not stand for this treatment of one of its citizens.”
Those sanctioned include two Moscow City Court judges who convicted and sentenced Kara-Murza and the lead prosecutor in the trial.
London had already sanctioned five individuals over the case – a judge, two investigators involved in the trial and two Federal Security Service, or FSB, agents involved in the arrest.
Kara-Murza suffers from a nerve condition called polyneuropathy, which his lawyers say is due to two poisoning attempts in 2015 and 2017.
The condition has worsened in prison, his lawyer said.
Kara-Murza has over the years pleaded in the United States and Europe for the adoption of individual sanctions against Russian officials.
In his last words in court in April, Kara-Murza stood by his political work, including the criticism of the offensive in Ukraine that led to his conviction.
“Not only do I not repent for any of it – I am proud of it,” he said. AFP
