Russia – Sentencing of Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza (17 April 2023)

France is appalled by the 25-year prison sentence handed down to the Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, which constitutes another illustration of the Russian authorities’ campaign of repression against critics of the government and its war of aggression against Ukraine. France is troubled by the manipulation of the Russian judicial system, which has become a tool of oppression for the Kremlin.

Furthermore, France is concerned about the deterioration of Mr. Kara-Murza’s health caused by his abysmal detention conditions.

France calls on Russia to comply with international human rights law, release the political prisoners, and drop the charges against them. We salute the courage of the men and women –
Vladimir Kara-Murza and Aleksei Navalny, among many others – who defend freedom of speech and freedom of opinion, despite the risks that this entails.