The well-known Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza has been accused of “high treason” in Russia, his lawyer announced today.
The crime carries very heavy prison terms, but Kara-Murza is already currently in prison for “criticising the Russian regime.”
“My client has been accused of criticising the Russian authorities on three occasions at public events in Lisbon, Helsinki and Washington. These speeches did not pose any threat to Russia, they were public criticism,” his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov said to the Russian state news agency TASS.
Russian authorities had previously reported that the publicist and activist “have been working with a NATO country for a long time”.
According to the new edition of the Russian Criminal Code, providing information to a foreign state is punishable by up to 20 years in prison.
Kara-Murza was arrested in April for spreading “false information” about the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He is known to be a politician, journalist, author, and filmmaker. He serves as vice-chairman of Open Russia, an NGO which promotes civil society and democracy in Russia.
