UK sanctions Russians judges over dual British national Kara-Murza's trial

The UK has imposed sanctions on Russian judges and prosecutors over what it describes as the 'politically motivated conviction' of Russian opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza, who also holds British citizenship. Britain is calling for Mr Kara-Murza's immediate release following the loss of his appeal against a 25-year jail sentence.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took to social media platform, X, denouncing the rejection of Mr Kara-Murza's appeal as 'desperate and unfounded.' The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans on Moscow City Court Judges Vitaly Belitsky and Ekaterina Mikhailovna Dorokhina, as well as Basmanny District Court Judge Natalia Nikolaevna Dudar.

Mr Kara-Murza, a vocal critic of President Vladimir Putin, continued his opposition work within Russia even after the Kremlin sent troops into Ukraine in early 2022. He was arrested two months after the war began, and was declared a 'foreign agent' after giving an interview to CNN in which he claimed Russia was run by 'a regime of murderers.'

Britain's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has stated that Kara-Murza is being persecuted for his anti-war stance. In the meanwhile, Moscow denies the allegations of deliberately targeting civilians in Ukraine.