The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, on Monday condemned the verdict of a Moscow court against opposition politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza (Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years jail), calling the court’s decision “another blow to the rule of law”. and civic engagement in the Russian Federation.
“Kara-Murza faces trial on charges that appear to relate to the legitimate exercise of his right to freedom of opinion, expression and association, including his public criticism of the armed attack on the Russian Federation against Ukraine,” Turk said in a statement. Statement issued by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. “No one should be deprived of their liberty for exercising their fundamental rights, and I call on the Russian authorities to release him without delay.
The European Union condemned Kara-Murza’s sentencing, calling the Russian court’s decision “outrageous” and “politically motivated”.
“Today’s shockingly brutal court decision once again clearly demonstrates the political abuse of the judiciary to pressure activists, human rights defenders and any voices opposed to war of aggression illegal attack by Russia against Ukraine,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement. “We call on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release all those imprisoned for political reasons.”
On Monday, the British government summoned the Russian ambassador to express its condemnation of the verdict against Vladimir Kara-Murza, who, in addition to being Russian, has British nationality.
“Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is troubling,” British Foreign Secretary James Cleverley said in a statement. “We continue to call on Russia to honor its international obligations, including Vladimir Kara-Murza’s right to adequate medical care.”
The UK has already sanctioned the judge who presided over the trial for his involvement in past human rights abuses and said it would consider further steps to bring to justice those involved in “the detention and ill-treatment by Kara-Murza.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry also condemned Kara-Murze’s sentencing on Monday.
“This is a very severe sentence, which raises serious concerns about the exercise of the right to freedom of expression,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeld said.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the conviction of the Russian opponent. The French Foreign Ministry noted that the Russian judiciary has become an instrument of oppression as part of a campaign of repression launched by the Russian authorities against anyone who criticizes the Russian leadership and its war of aggression against Ukraine. .
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