Freedom’s Price: Vladimir Kara-Murza Punished for Criticizing Russia’s War in Ukraine

Message from the Director

We draw your attention to a Moscow court’s recent sentencing of Russian politician, journalist and historian Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in a penal colony for an earlier treason conviction for his public criticism of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. Many of you will recall Kara-Murza’s visit to UT-Austin in February 2022 – two weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine. He was invited to Austin by the Clements Center for National Security, Strauss Center for International Security and Law, and Intelligence Studies Project, together with the Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies and UT’s Global Disinformation Lab.

Kara-Murza’s public remarks at UT on “Freedom and Dissent in Contemporary Russia” were unflinching and tragically prophetic. In a series of interviews and meetings on campus, Kara-Murza impressed students with a perspective deeply informed by history and his persistent confidence in the ability of his fellow Russians to reform a system spiraling toward dictatorship. His only personal request during the visit was to arrange a tour to the Texas Capitol, that he regarded as an important symbol of democracy.

Before his sentencing, Kara-Murza made a brief statement to the court. While the judicial proceedings were closed, The Washington Post (to which Kara-Murza contributed as a columnist) obtained a copy of his statement. We commend Vladimir’s words to you as an eloquent reflection on the high price of personal liberty being paid daily by prisoners of conscience in Russia and other unfree societies.                     

MOSCOW CITY COURT — Members of the court: I was sure, after two decades spent in Russian politics, after all that I have seen and experienced, that nothing can surprise me anymore. I must admit that I was wrong. I’ve been surprised by the extent to which my trial, in its secrecy and its contempt for legal norms, has surpassed even the “trials” of Soviet dissidents in the 1960s and ’70s. And that’s not even to mention the harshness of the sentence requested by the prosecution or the talk of “enemies of the state.” In this respect, we’ve gone beyond the 1970s — all the way back to the 1930s. For me, as a historian, this is an occasion for reflection.

At one point during my testimony, the presiding judge reminded me that one of the extenuating circumstances was “remorse for what [the accused] has done.” And although there is little that’s amusing about my present situation, I could not help smiling: The criminal, of course, must repent of his deeds. I’m in jail for my political views. For speaking out against the war in Ukraine. For many years of struggle against Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship. For facilitating the adoption of personal international sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against human rights violators.

Not only do I not repent of any of this, I am proud of it. I am proud that Boris Nemtsov brought me into politics. And I hope that he is not ashamed of me. I subscribe to every word that I have spoken and every word of which I have been accused by this court. I blame myself for only one thing: that over the years of my political activity I have not managed to convince enough of my compatriots and enough politicians in the democratic countries of the danger that the current regime in the Kremlin poses for Russia and for the world. Today this is obvious to everyone, but at a terrible price — the price of war.

In their last statements to the court, defendants usually ask for an acquittal. For a person who has not committed any crimes, acquittal would be the only fair verdict. But I do not ask this court for anything. I know the verdict. I knew it a year ago when I saw people in black uniforms and black masks running after my car in the rearview mirror. Such is the price for speaking up in Russia today.

But I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate. When black will be called black and white will be called white; when at the official level it will be recognized that two times two is still four; when a war will be called a war, and a usurper a usurper; and when those who kindled and unleashed this war, rather than those who tried to stop it, will be recognized as criminals.

This day will come as inevitably as spring follows even the coldest winter. And then our society will open its eyes and be horrified by what terrible crimes were committed on its behalf. From this realization, from this reflection, the long, difficult but vital path toward the recovery and restoration of Russia, its return to the community of civilized countries, will begin. Even today, even in the darkness surrounding us, even sitting in this cage, I love my country and believe in our people. I believe that we can walk this path.