Prominent Russian opposition figure Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., who is currently serving a 25-year sentence for treason, has reportedly gone missing from the Siberian prison where he was incarcerated. Kara-Murza, 42, was being held in a prison located in the Omsk region, but a letter sent to him by activist and journalist Alexander Podrabinek was returned with a note stating that Kara-Murza was no longer there, as shared by Podrabinek on Facebook.
According to Vadim Prokhorov, a lawyer for Kara-Murza, another lawyer who attempted to visit the political activist and journalist on Monday was informed that he was not present in the prison, as reported by the Telegram news channel Agentstvo. This sudden disappearance has raised concerns among Kara-Murza's supporters, who fear for his safety.
Evgenia Kara-Murza, Vladimir's wife, expressed her distress over her husband's unexplained transfer and demanded that the Russian government provide information regarding his whereabouts. She emphasized the fear in this situation, mentioning that her husband is in the custody of the same individuals who had attempted to poison him twice before, in 2015 and 2017.
Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr., well-known for surviving two alleged poisonings which he attributed to Russian authorities, has consistently rejected the charges levied against him, claiming that they are merely a means of punishing him for his opposition to President Vladimir Putin. He has likened the legal proceedings to the show trials that occurred during the reign of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
The opaque nature of transfers within Russia's prison system often leads to inmates being out of contact for extended periods of time, causing anxiety among their supporters. A similar situation occurred in December, when supporters of Russia's prominent opposition figure Alexei Navalny were alarmed by his sudden disappearance. Navalny, currently serving a 19-year sentence, eventually resurfaced in a prison colony situated above the Arctic Circle. Previously, he had been held in the Vladimir region, 230 kilometers (140 miles) away from Moscow.
Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. was arrested in 2022 and subsequently sentenced to 25 years in prison on charges related to a speech he delivered that year to the Arizona House of Representatives, condemning Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The crackdown on opposition figures and efforts to suppress criticism have intensified under President Putin, particularly since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. This has included the passage of legislation that criminalizes reports perceived as defaming the Russian military.
The disappearance of Vladimir Kara-Murza Jr. raises significant concerns about his well-being and highlights the ongoing challenges faced by opposition figures in Russia. Supporters and advocates continue to demand transparency from the Russian government regarding the conditions and whereabouts of detained individuals, hoping to ensure their safety and well-being.
