The wife of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza speaks/ I will fight for his freedom

2023-04-19 19:55:54, Kosova & Bota CNA

The wife of Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza speaks/ I will fight for his

After a Moscow court sentenced opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison for treason and discrediting the Russian military, his wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, speaks to VOA. She says she will continue the fight for his freedom.

In an interview with the Russian service of the Voice of America, Evgenia Kara-Murza said that she will never give up demanding that her husband be released.

"It's scary when you hear that the battle may not last for months, but for years. But I will continue as long as necessary. It's about the man I love and respect. I am fighting for the father of my children. Of course, I miss my home, my country. But I am heartbroken with everything that is happening. As a mother, as a wife of a political prisoner and as a Russian citizen", she says.

Vladimir Kara-Murza, who has been in prison for a year, denied the charges and said his sentence was politically motivated.

His sentence was the harshest of its kind and marks the next step in a relentless crackdown on the Russian opposition since Moscow launched its military aggression in Ukraine last year.

The charges against Mr Kara-Murza stemmed from a speech he gave on March 15 in the US state House of Representatives in Arizona during which he criticized Russia's attack on Ukraine. While he was in custody, the authorities added the charge of treason.

Just yesterday, the Moscow City Court decided to keep the American journalist Evan Gershkovich in custody pending the end of the judicial process. He is accused of espionage.

Russia's Federal Security Service arrested the 31-year-old in Yekaterinburg in March and accused him of trying to obtain secret information about a Russian arms factory.

The Wall Street Journal and the United States government have denied the espionage allegations. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the Moscow court's decision and called for the immediate release of journalist and fellow American citizen Paul Whelan.

"We are deeply disturbed by the news that Russia will continue to keep Evan in prison after the disgraceful judicial process today, because we saw this. "The administration of President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris is engaging with Russia in every way possible to bring Evan and Paul Whelan home, which is also a priority for us," the spokeswoman said.

Paul Whelan has been imprisoned in Russia since December 2018 on espionage charges.

The United States says that both the journalist Gershkovich and the former member of the US Navy Whelan should return to their families./ VOA