Imprisoned British-Russian dissident thanks Cambridge college for honour
Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is imprisoned in Siberia, was made an honorary fellow of Trinity Hall in recognition of his bravery.
A Russian dissident who is serving a 25-year prison sentence after criticising Russia’s war in Ukraine has written to his former Cambridge University College from Siberia where he is incarcerated.
Dual British-Russian citizen Vladimir Kara-Murza said in his letter to Trinity Hall that “the truth, in the end, does come out stronger”.
He said he was “incredibly honoured” to learn he had been made an Honorary Fellow of the College in recognition of his bravery, adding that “good news are a scarce commodity in a special-regime prison in Siberia”.
The 42-year-old, a journalist and opposition activist, was imprisoned in April 2022 and convicted of treason last year.
He is among a growing number of dissidents held in increasingly severe conditions under President Vladimir Putin’s political crackdown.
The UK Foreign Secretary, Lord David Cameron, last month called for Russian authorities to “release him immediately on humanitarian grounds”.
Mr Kara-Murza was last year made an Honorary Fellow of Trinity Hall, where he studied, in recognition of his bravery in speaking out on Russian foreign policy despite the clear danger.
The honour was accepted on his behalf by his wife, Evgenia.
