World
Wife of Jailed Russian Dissident Urges Western Intervention as Husband’s Situation Deteriorates in Siberian Prison
The wife of the imprisoned Russian opposition figure, Vladimir Kara-Murza, is imploring Western nations to intervene urgently as concerns mount over her husband’s well-being in a high-security Siberian prison.
Evgenia Kara-Murza, who hails from London and holds a degree from the University of Cambridge, expressed fears over the treatment Vladimir may face while receiving care in a prison hospital.
Currently detained in special regime prison colony No 7 in Omsk, Siberia, Vladimir Kara-Murza was abruptly moved to a prison hospital on 4 July, causing distress to his family and legal team.
The sudden relocation severed his last human connection outside the prison walls, raising alarm bells among activists and Western officials who view his solitary confinement as a form of torture.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, known as a prominent critic of Putin‘s regime, has faced multiple legal battles – including a 25-year sentence for speaking out against Russia‘s actions in Crimea, deemed by many as politically motivated.
His wife, Evgenia, recounted the anxiety-ridden days of not knowing her husband’s whereabouts, expressing frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding his transfer to the hospital.
Despite assurances from the prison authorities about his stable condition, concerns linger over the adequacy of medical care provided in Russian prison hospitals, particularly for political prisoners.
Evgenia Kara-Murza highlighted the psychological toll of the ordeal on her husband, who has endured previous assassination attempts, leaving him with a nerve condition that worsened in solitary confinement.
Worries about Putin’s tightening grip on dissenters like Vladimir Kara-Murza have spurred calls for Western governments to intervene and pressure the Russian authorities to ensure his safety and well-being.
As the international community waits for developments in the case, the spotlight remains on the treatment of political prisoners in Russia, with parallels drawn to the controversial case of Alexei Navalny.
