MOSCOW: Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza said on Monday he stood by all of his political statements, including against the Ukraine offensive, that led him to face 25 years in jail.
“I subscribe to every word that I have said, that I am incriminated for today,” Kara-Murza said, citing his fight against the Ukraine offensive and President Vladimir Putin.
Kara-Murza is accused of several charges including treason, and spreading false information about the Russian army
By AFPApril 11, 2023
(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 10, 2022, Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza is escorted for a hearing at the Basmanny court in Moscow. A Russian prosecutor on April 6, 2023, requested 25 years of imprisonment for Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is being tried on several charges including treason for comments critical of the Ukraine offensive, his lawyer said.—AFP
(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 10, 2022, Russian opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza is escorted for a hearing at the Basmanny court in Moscow. A Russian prosecutor on April 6, 2023, requested 25 years of imprisonment for Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is being tried on several charges including treason for comments critical of the Ukraine offensive, his lawyer said.—AFP
MOSCOW: Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza said on Monday he stood by all of his political statements, including against the Ukraine offensive, that led him to face 25 years in jail.
“I subscribe to every word that I have said, that I am incriminated for today,” Kara-Murza said, citing his fight against the Ukraine offensive and President Vladimir Putin.
“Not only do I not repent for any of it — I am proud of it,” he said in his last words to the court, which was published on journalist Alexei Venediktov’s Telegram channel.
Kara-Murza, 41, is accused of several charges including treason, and spreading false information about the Russian army.
“I only blame myself for one thing,” Kara-Murza said.
“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 Western-educated journalist was a close associate of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, who was shot dead near the Kremlin in 2015.
“I’m proud of the fact that Boris Nemtsov brought me into politics. And I hope he’s not ashamed of me,” Kara-Murza said.
His high-profile trial is the latest in a string of cases against opposition voices in Russia in a crackdown that has intensified since Putin sent troops to Ukraine last year.
Prosecutors have called for 25 years against him.