Dozens of Russian journalists and rights activists on Monday called on the authorities to free a prominent opposition politician facing up to 25 years in jail for alleged treason and other charges which they said were politically motivated.
The appeal to release Vladimir Kara-Murza, 41, came ahead of a court hearing in Moscow as his trial, which the journalists likened to the political terror meted out by Soviet leader Josef Stalin in the 1930s, draws to a close.a 25-year prison sentence for Kara-Murza, a father of three and author and former journalist who holds Russian and British passports. He is expected to deliver a final speech at Monday's hearing, his lawyer Vadim Prokhorov has said.
Prosecutors accuse him of discrediting the Russian military and treason among other charges after he criticised Russia's war in Ukraine - which it calls a "special military operation" - Moscow's crackdown on dissent, and Putin.Shortly after sending tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February last year, Russia introduced sweeping wartime censorship laws which have been used to silence dissenting voices across society.
At a time of war, pro-government politicians say unity across society is vital and have described Russian citizens questioning Moscow's actions in Ukraine as part of a pro-Western fifth column trying to undermine the war effort.
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