Washington: Russian activist Vladimir Kara-Murza expressed disbelief as he addressed lawmakers and diplomats in a U.S. Senate hearing room on Tuesday. This appearance comes just weeks after his release from a Siberian prison in a major prisoner swap. “The word surreal doesn’t even come close to describing what I feel now,” he remarked during the event, which aimed to shed light on the plight of hundreds of individuals still detained in Russia for their political beliefs.
During Kara-Murza’s visit, Democratic Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, announced plans to introduce the Bridge Act this week. This legislation seeks to protect Russians and Belarusians advocating for democracy in their countries. According to a draft seen by Reuters, the Bridge Act proposes funding to support independent media and civil society organizations in Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. It also outlines measures to support dissidents living abroad.
Kara-Murza was released on August 1 in a prisoner exchange after being sentenced to 25 years for treason. His sentence stemmed from statements accusing the Russian government of bombing Ukrainian homes, hospitals, and schools. His release followed a prolonged campaign involving letters from members of Congress and a resolution calling for his freedom. “Whatever the cynics and the skeptics will tell you, advocacy works, and public attention protects, and public attention saves,” Kara-Murza stated.
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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has denied the existence of political prisoners in Belarus. Following Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, part of which was launched from Belarusian territory, Lukashenko employed the full force of his security apparatus to suppress protests over alleged election fraud in August 2020. Thousands were arrested during this crackdown.
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On Monday, Lukashenko signed a decree pardoning 37 individuals convicted of crimes related to “extremism,” according to the state news agency. This development marks a rare instance of clemency in a country often criticized for its harsh stance against political dissent.
