Wife of Russian-British citizen locked up in Siberia says UK government could have been ‘more vocal’ about his detention
The wife of a dual Russian-British citizen locked up in Siberia has told Sky News the UK government could have spoken out more about his detention.
Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was arrested near his Moscow home in April 2022, was convicted of treason by a court in the Russian capital in April 2023.
The political activist and prominent opposition figure, who claims he has twice survived poisonings which he blamed on the country’s authorities, was sentenced to 25 years in prison.
The charges stemmed from a speech he gave in March 2022 to the House of Representatives in Arizona, where he denounced Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Speaking to Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips programme, Evgenia Kara-Murza said: “The British government could have been more vocal about his unlawful illegal arrest and detention for two years now.”
She also said the “UK’s policy with regard to hostages and political prisoners” was “not acceptable anymore”.
“By saying that we do not engage, the UK government sends a very bad signal to its citizens all over the world that if you end up in a situation like this, [then] sorry, you’re on your own,” Ms Kara-Murza said.
She said such a position was not acceptable in the 21st century “in a civilised world”.
And she called for a “different approach” because “the number of hostages and political prisoners around the world is on the rise”.
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Putin critic’s wife: ‘UK sends bad signal’
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Mrs Kara-Murza also said she was “very grateful” for a recent meeting she had with the foreign secretary Lord Cameron about the matter.
After the 1 March meeting, she said she was “very happy” that it had taken place after a lengthy campaign and regarded it as “a sign of goodwill on his part”.
She said: “He assured me of his support and his willingness, his preparedness, to fight for Vladimir’s release and to make sure that Vladimir’s case is always publicised. So I think, all in all, it went well.”
Lord Cameron called for Mr Kara-Murza to be released for “urgent medical treatment”.
In a statement, the foreign secretary said the “politically-motivated conviction” was “deplorable”.
“Imprisoned on false charges by the Russian regime, Mr Kara-Murza is being persecuted for his anti-war stance and defence of human rights,” the peer said.
The 42-year-old opposition figure has rejected the charges against him as punishment for standing up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and likened the proceedings to the show trials under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.
Mrs Kara-Murza in Switzerland in 2023. Pic: Reuters
Last month, he appeared in court via videolink and claimed a state-backed hit squad is “physically eliminating” Putin’s opponents.
Mr Kara-Murza is urging Russians not to give up following the sudden death of Alexei Navalny.
Mr Kara-Murza was an associate of Russian opposition leader and fierce Putin critic Boris Nemtsov, who was assassinated near the Kremlin in 2015.
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Since September 2023, he has been serving his sentence in solitary confinement in the Siberian city of Omsk.
In January this year, he was moved to another penal colony in the city and was put in solitary again.
That move has been widely seen as an attempt to pressure a man who, even behind bars, remained a vocal critic of the Kremlin and its war in Ukraine.
Amnesty International has said it considers him a prisoner of conscience “as he has been convicted solely for his political beliefs”.
“He should be immediately and unconditionally released,” Amnesty says.
Also on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips from 8.30am will be Health Secretary Victoria Atkins, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Commonwealth secretary general, Baroness Scotland.
Former British heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua delivered a dose of reality to YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul as he won their much-anticipated showdown.
Joshua scored three knockdowns before landing a huge right hit on Paul halfway through the sixth round.
The British fighter lifted Paul’s hand in a show of respect after the fight broadcast on the streaming platform Netflix.
Joshua landing the right hit that knocked out Paul. Pic: AP
“Jake Paul has done really well tonight. I want to give him his props, he got up, time and time again,” he said about his opponent.
Joshua said it “wasn’t the best performance”, adding: “It took a bit longer than expected. But the right hand finally found the destination.”
Joshua celebrating his win after the fight. Pic: Reuters
Meanwhile, Paul said: “I’m feeling good, that was fun. I love this sport. I gave it my all, It’s f****** crazy. I had a blast.
“I got my ass beat, but that’s what this sport is about. I’mma (going to) come back and keep on winning.”
He added: “I just got tired to be honest. He did amazing and hits really hard.”
Jake Paul was knocked down three times before the final knockout in the sixth round. Pic: Reuters
The fight marked the end of a 14-month hiatus for Joshua, 36, while for 28-year-old Paul it was the biggest fight since his boxing career began in 2020.
At the weigh-in on Friday, Joshua boasted an almost two-stone advantage over Paul, who has regularly fought at cruiserweight since he entered the world of boxing.
Britain’s two-time world heavyweight champion tipped the scales at 243.4lbs (17st 5lbs) for his fight against Paul in Miami, while Paul weighed in at 216lbs (15st 6lbs) – a hefty 1.9st difference.
Joshua, who could not weigh more than 245lbs, is the lightest he has been since his first fight against Oleksandr Usyk in September 2021 when he was 240lbs. For his last fight against Daniel Dubois he weighed 252.5Ibs.
Jake Paul and Anthony Joshua at the weigh-in. Pic: Reuters
It is also only the second time that Paul weighed in over cruiserweight limit – the other time was when he fought 58-year-old Mike Tyson. Paul defeated Tyson by unanimous decision with 80-72, 79-73, and 79-73.
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Family of nine-year-old Aria Thorpe pay tribute to ‘beautiful soul’ as teen appears in court charged with murder
The family of a nine-year-old girl stabbed to death have said she was a “beautiful soul” who was brave, kind-hearted and “always put a smile on people’s faces”.
Police were called to Lime Close in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, just before 6.10pm on Monday, where Aria Thorpe had suffered a single stab wound.
The child was pronounced dead at the scene.
In a tribute released by Avon and Somerset Police on Friday, the girl’s family on her mother’s side said: “For those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing Aria, she was the most beautiful little soul – happy-go-lucky, full of light, and joy.
“She loved to sing and dance, and she took such pride in dressing up, always wanting to look just like her mummy.”
Tom Thorpe, the girl’s father, said: “It’s hard to put into words how devastating it is, our little Aria, that you’re up there with the angels looking over us.”
It comes as a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared in court.
Pic: Avon and Somerset Police
Aria was a ‘precious girl’
In their statement, Aria’s family on her mother’s side said her death “has devastated us beyond words”.
“Our hearts are broken in a way we never imagined possible,” they added.
“As a family, we are holding one another close and doing everything we can to support each other through this unimaginable time.”
They said they were “truly touched by the lovely messages we have received”, before asking “that our privacy is respected, as we try to come to terms with the terrible loss of our precious girl”.
Flowers laid in memory of the young girl
‘Wacky ways and outright madness’
Mr Thorpe said: “How sad it’s going to be not hearing ‘Dad, how long left?’ on our long journeys back and forth at weekends.
He then said that Aria was “such a brave, kind-hearted and a beautiful innocent soul”, and “always put a smile on people’s faces with your wacky ways and just outright madness”.
Mr Thorpe added: “Your other little family down here in Portsmouth will forever miss you.
“We’ll miss you begging to go outside, even in the pouring rain just to have as much fun as possible in the little time we had at weekends.
“You will be greatly missed, you special little angel. A life gone far too early but I hope a life lived well. We all love you dearly. Goodnight darling.”
Teenager in court
Meanwhile, a 15-year-old boy charged with Aria’s murder appeared at Bristol Crown Court on Friday, where he was remanded.
The teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was arrested in the Somerset village of Worle at 6.19pm on Monday.
He is next due in court on 16 March 2026. Appearing via video link from youth detention accommodation, he spoke only to confirm his name.
Judge Peter Blair KC set a provisional trial date for 15 June during the hearing.
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