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Today (7 September) marks Russian opposition politician, journalist, and human rights activist Vladimir Kara-Murza鈥檚 42nd birthday, the second he will spend in a Russian prison on politically-motivated charges.

Mr Kara-Murza was convicted of spreading 鈥渒nowingly false information鈥� about the Russian armed forces; involvement with an 鈥渦ndesirable鈥� organisation; and treason, and in April was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Russia.

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said:

Vladimir Kara-Murza should not be in prison at all 鈥� he is only there for having rightly called out Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine as a contravention of international law.

We reiterate our call for Mr Kara-Murza鈥檚 immediate and unconditional release, and for Russia to adhere to its international human rights obligations. We commend the continued efforts of his wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, to advocate for her husband and all those who have spoken out against Russia鈥檚 invasion.

Vladimir Kara-Murza has received wide recognition for his work, including the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize.

His persecution is part of a wider pattern of oppression of Russian citizens by the Kremlin. Since the invasion thousands of Russians have been arrested and prosecuted for even small gestures of opposition to the war. 皇冠体育appre have been over 600 prosecutions for similar 鈥榓nti-war鈥� activity to the allegations against Mr Kara-Murza since February 2022.

Background

• British Embassy officials have attended Mr Kara-Murza鈥檚 court hearings in Moscow throughout the year. FCDO officials have consistently raised Mr Kara-Murza鈥檚 case with the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Embassy, and will continue to do so

• after he was sentenced, the UK government summoned the Russian Ambassador, and has also sanctioned 9 individuals involved in his case