Record jail term handed to Russian-British Kremlin critic

Russian-British national Vladimir Kara-Murza has been given a 25-year jail term on politically motivated charges.

Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza inside a defendants' cage during his sentencing in Moscow on Monday. Picture: AFP

The Russian ambassador to Britain has been summonsed to the British Foreign Office after the conviction of Russian-British national Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years’ jail on politically motivated charges of spreading false information about the Russian armed ­forces and high treason.

Britain says it considers the conviction announced on Monday to be contrary to Russia’s international obligations on human rights, including the right to a fair trial.

Kara-Murza is a well known opposition politician, journalist, and human rights activist in Russia and has been unwell in jail since being detained for the past year. He has been the target of two previous poisoning attempts, one in 2015 and ­another in 2017.

Kara-Murza told the closed court hearing through his lawyer: “I only blame myself for one thing. I failed to convince enough of my compatriots and politicians in democratic countries of the danger that the current Kremlin regime poses for Russia and for the world.’’

The sentence is the longest imposed on an opposition figure and comes as the country cracks down on any dissent, and its ratcheting of attacks on journalists, following the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich earlier this month.

British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “Vladimir Kara-Murza bravely denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for what it was – a blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter.

“Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is alarming. We continue to urge Russia to adhere to its international obligations including Vladimir Kara-Murza’s entitlement to proper healthcare.

“I pay tribute to Mr Kara-Murza and his family, including his wife Evgenia and her unwavering commitment to raising her husband’s cause on the international stage. The UK will continue to support them and to call for Mr Kara-Murza’s immediate release.”

The judge who presided over the trial, Sergei Podoprigorov, has already been sanctioned by the UK for previous involvement in human rights violations against Sergei Magnitsky.

The British government said it would consider further measures for holding to account those involved in Mr Kara-Murza’s detention and mistreatment.