Britain Sanctions Russian Judges Over Politically Motivated Conviction of Opposition Politician Kara-Murza
Britain has imposed sanctions on Russian judges and prosecutors involved in what it deemed a politically motivated conviction of opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza. The move comes after Kara-Murza lost his appeal against a 25-year jail sentence for treason and other charges. The 41-year-old, who holds both Russian and British citizenship, has been a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin. Britain has called for his immediate release, describing the rejection of his appeal as unjustifiable.
The individuals targeted by the British government include Moscow City Court Judges Vitaly Belitsky and Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dorokhina, who have both been subjected to asset freezes and travel bans. Basmanny District Court Judge Natalia Nikolaevna Dudar, who extended Kara-Murza’s pre-trial detention, was also sanctioned. In addition, two prosecutors and an expert witness who allegedly provided false justification for Kara-Murza’s detention were included in the sanctions.
According to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Kara-Murza is being persecuted by the Russian regime due to his anti-war stance. He is among the few prominent opposition figures who remained in Russia and continued speaking out against Putin’s government after the military intervention in Ukraine. Kara-Murza’s arrest came after he appeared on CNN, where he accused Russia of being governed by a regime of murderers. He was subsequently charged with spreading false information about the armed forces and declared a foreign agent.
The British government’s latest sanctions build upon previous measures targeting individuals involved in Kara-Murza’s case. Moscow has repeatedly stated that it does not deliberately target civilians, despite the thousands of deaths in Ukraine. The situation has garnered international attention and raised concerns about the treatment of opposition figures in Russia.
The imposition of sanctions by Britain reflects its condemnation of what it sees as injustice and political persecution. The British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, expressed his disbelief at the rejection of Kara-Murza’s appeal, emphasizing that he should be released immediately.
It remains to be seen what impact these sanctions will have and whether they will influence Russia’s position on Kara-Murza’s imprisonment. The case has become a symbol of the ongoing struggle between the Russian government and its critics, both domestically and internationally. As tensions continue to rise, the international community will closely monitor the situation and consider further actions to support Kara-Murza and advocate for his release.
