Lawyer Vadim Prokhorov, who defended Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison, fled Russia a few days before the verdict was announced after receiving threats. “Now I am outside of Russia,” he said in an interview with Voice of America, according to the Meduza website.

“Both the prosecutor and the judge, for various reasons, stated that it was necessary not only to remove me from the legal profession, but also to bring me to criminal responsibility. Also, through a politician, I received the same warning about the possibility of interest from one of the deputy prosecutor general, who also took up our case, ”said Prokhorov. “Some of my colleagues are already in jail,” he added.

A Moscow court sentenced Vladimir Kara-Murza to 25 years in prison for “high treason”, for “spreading false information” about the Russian army, and for holding a leading position in an “undesirable organization” at the request of the prosecutor on April 17. The Russian opposition politician, in his latest speech before the court, stressed that he was in prison for his political beliefs.

“Because I opposed the war in Ukraine. For my many years of struggle against Putin’s dictatorship. For my contribution to the establishment of international sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against those who violate human rights. Not only do I not regret all this, I am proud of it ”, the Russian opposition politician said in his speech.

The trial of Kara-Murza was held behind closed doors.

Lawyer Vadim Prokhorov at various times represented the opposition of Vladimir Kara-Murza, Ilya Yashin, Boris Nemtsov (killed near the Kremlin), and in the past the initiative group to nominate Mikhail Khodorkovsky to the Duma.

Also, lawyer Dmitry Talandov, who defended the former Kommersant journalist Ivan Safronov, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for high treason, faces 15 years in prison.

Talandov’s lawyer was prosecuted for “dissemination of false information” on Facebook, in which he condemned the actions of the Russian military in Butsa, Irpen and Mariupol. In September, the indictment included incitement to hatred and enmity. The reason for the new category was social media posts.

Source: Novaya Gazeta Europe, APE-MPE