WhatsApp Logo Subscribe
For News Alert

News

Russian court blocks probe into Kara-Murza poisonings

By AFP

May 21, 2024 06:40 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

A Moscow court ruled Tuesday that investigators acted lawfully when they refused to look into two alleged murder attempts against the jailed Kremlin critic Vladimir Kara-Murza.

Kara-Murza, 42, fell severely ill in 2015 and 2017 with symptoms that he blamed on poisoning, but Russia's Investigative Committee did not open an inquiry after the allegation.

An investigation led by Bellingcat journalists in 2021 suggested that FSB agents were involved in both cases.

"The investigators, having received this information, did nothing," Kara-Murza told the court via video link from Siberia, where he is serving a 25-year prison sentence for treason and other charges.

"As a result of the poisonings I ended up in intensive care with a five percent chance of survival," he said.

Fears for the prominent dissident's health have grown since fellow opposition figure Alexei Navalny died in prison under opaque circumstances in February.

Kara-Murza, a citizen of both Russia and Britain, suffers from serious health problems that his wife Evgenia and lawyers say are directly related to the alleged poisoning attempts.

He was imprisoned in April 2023 after criticising Russia's military assault on Ukraine and pressing Western countries to impose sanctions against the Kremlin.

Russia's top court upheld the 25-year sentence against him on May 14, throwing out an appeal from his lawyers, who called his jailing unlawful.

Since launching its offensive in Ukraine, Russia has detained, jailed or exiled thousands of dissidents in a campaign critics say carries echoes of the mass repression seen during the Soviet Union.


AFP


Most Read

  1. Two senior lawyers shot dead by Elite Force jawan in Attock court Two senior lawyers shot dead by Elite Force jawan in Attock court
  2. Bajwa-Khan bond 2.0: After Urvashi Rautela, Sonam Bajwa becomes Naseem Shah’s fan Bajwa-Khan bond 2.0: After Urvashi Rautela, Sonam Bajwa becomes Naseem Shah’s fan
  3. Sindh CM unveils ambitious Rs3.056 trillion budget for FY 2024-25 Sindh CM unveils ambitious Rs3.056 trillion budget for FY 2024-25
  4. PML-N MNA flees after coming face to face with Imran Khan PML-N MNA flees after coming face to face with Imran Khan
  5. LUMS secures third position at United Asians Debating Championship LUMS secures third position at United Asians Debating Championship
  6. Police arrest principal and MS Sahiwal hospital after children’s death in blaze Police arrest principal and MS Sahiwal hospital after children’s death in blaze

Opinion

  1. An Unmissable Opportunity: The Time for Modi and Islamabad leadership to Resume Bilateral Dialogue is Now!
    An Unmissable Opportunity: The Time for Modi and Islamabad leadership to Resume Bilateral Dialogue is Now!

    By Sudheendra Kulkarni

  2. Premier Shehbaz and Chinese model
    Premier Shehbaz and Chinese model

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  3. Modi's myth broken, yet in power
    Modi's myth broken, yet in power

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  4. Xi, Shehbaz and CPEC phase - 2
    Xi, Shehbaz and CPEC phase - 2

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  5. Pakistan's UNSC Triumph: A New Era
    Pakistan's UNSC Triumph: A New Era

    By Dr Asif Channer

  6. Shehbaz, Deng, Xi and transformation
    Shehbaz, Deng, Xi and transformation

    By Naveed Aman Khan