freedom of speech
Russian opposition figure Kara-Mursa arrested in Moscow
Vladimir Kara-Mursa, a Russian opposition figure, sits at a meeting of the Russian opposition, the so-called “United Democrats”. Photo: Hannah Wagner/dpa
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While a major Russian offensive is expected in eastern Ukraine, repression is also growing inside Russia. The target now became a prominent critic of Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin.
Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Mursa has been arrested by police in front of his home in Moscow. Kara-Mursa had to stay overnight in a police station, his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov said.
He was charged with resisting state authority. According to Russian law, this can result in a prison sentence of up to 15 days. Nothing was initially known about other allegations. However, Kara-Mursa is a prominent critic of President Vladimir Putin.
The 40-year-old politician and journalist has twice narrowly survived mysterious poisonings for which he blames the Russian secret service. According to research by the investigative group Bellingcat, Kara-Mursa was being pursued by agents of the Russian domestic secret service FSB, who are said to be involved in the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.