In provocative speech, Kremlin critic Kara-Murza compares his trial to Stalin’s USSR

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Opposition politician stands trial for treason

MOSCOW, April 10 (Reuters) – Facing up to a quarter century in prison on charges of treason which he denies, Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza told a Moscow court on Monday that his trial was reminiscent of the one of Josef Stalin’s show trials in the 1930s and declared he had done nothing wrong.

Kara-Murza, 41, a father of three and a former journalist with Russian and British passports, spent years as a politician opposing President Vladimir Putin and lobbying foreign governments and institutions to impose sanctions on Russia and Russians for alleged human rights abuses. .

Russian prosecutors on Thursday requested a 25-year prison sentence for Kara-Murza, whom they accuse of treason and discrediting the Russian military after criticizing what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.

His trial, which will result in a verdict on April 17, is being held behind closed doors, but a copy of his final speech in court on Monday has been made available by his wife and lawyer.

In it, he took a defiant tone, refused to ask the court to acquit him, and said he stayed away and was proud of everything he said.

The current environment, he said, resembles not so much the 1970s – a time when the state clashed with Soviet dissidents – as the 1930s, when Stalin conducted a series of show trials and purges. of his opponents.

“For me, as a historian, this is food for thought,” Kara-Murza said.

“Criminals are supposed to repent of what they have done. I, on the other hand, am in prison for my political opinions. I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will be lifted.”

Shortly after sending tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine in February last year, Russia introduced sweeping wartime censorship laws that have been used to silence dissenting voices in society.

“Discrediting” the military is currently punishable by up to five years in prison, while deliberately spreading false information about it can result in a 15-year prison sentence.

At a time when they presented an existential struggle with the West, pro-government politicians said societal unity was vital and described Russian citizens questioning Moscow’s actions in Ukraine as part of a pro-Western fifth column trying to undermine the army. campaign.

Earlier Monday, dozens of Russian journalists and rights activists – many of whom have fled the country – called on authorities to release Kara-Murza, saying the charges against him were baseless and politically motivated.

“Prosecuting murderers and criminals rather than honest and responsible citizens who dare to think and speak the truth,” the letter reads. “Stop Russia’s new slide into Stalinism and a totalitarian system.”

There was no immediate response to the letter from the authorities, who consider many of its signatories to be traitors who aspire to defeat their own country on the battlefield.

Kara-Murza and his followers say he has survived poisoning twice in the past. Russian authorities deny any involvement in the alleged attacks.

Reporting by Andrew Osborn Editing by Rosalba O’Brien

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