Lawmakers in the United States are urging for the immediate release of Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., who has been imprisoned for two years as part of the Kremlin’s crackdown on critics of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Sen. Ben Cardin, emphasized that Kara-Murza will not be forgotten and efforts will be made to set him free. Kara-Murza, a journalist and opposition activist, was jailed in April 2022 and convicted of treason last year, receiving a 25-year sentence, the harshest punishment for a Kremlin critic in modern Russia.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers from both the House and Senate is working together to increase pressure on both Russian authorities and the Biden administration to secure Kara-Murza’s release. Sen. Jim Risch called for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate Kara-Murza as a “wrongfully detained person,” which would help elevate his case and provide support for his family in America as they advocate for his freedom. The charges against Kara-Murza, a dual Russian-British citizen, originated from a speech critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine delivered to the Arizona House of Representatives.
In response to the increasing detentions of American citizens in Russia, senators introduced a resolution condemning the Russian government’s actions and calling for the immediate release of those detained. The resolution highlighted the cases of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, and other U.S. citizens like Paul Whelan, Travis Leake, Marc Fogel, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Ksenia Khavana who are also being held in Russia on various charges. Sen. Tim Kaine emphasized the need for the State Department to use all available resources to bring these Americans home, including Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Evgenia Kara-Murza, Vladimir’s wife who resides in the U.S. with their three children, joined lawmakers in advocating for her husband’s release and expressed gratitude for the support in the fight for his freedom and life. She revealed that her husband had been subjected to months of solitary confinement, a tactic often used against Kremlin critics to exert additional pressure on them. Kara-Murza had been held in a penal colony in the Omsk region, though recent reports suggest he may have been transferred elsewhere. Lawmakers continue to push for his release and condemn the harsh treatment faced by dissidents in Russia.
The arrests and detainments of journalists, including American citizens, by the Russian government are seen as disturbing violations of basic freedoms. Lawmakers are urging the State Department to leverage all available tools to bring these individuals back home safely. The actions by Russian authorities have raised concerns about human rights abuses and the suppression of dissent, leading to calls for international pressure to address these issues and advocate for the release of those wrongfully detained. Efforts from both U.S. lawmakers and advocacy groups are ongoing to secure the freedom of Vladimir Kara-Murza and other prisoners held in Russia.
