A British citizen, who was freed in the biggest prisoner swap with Russia since the Cold War, has called on people not to “confuse Vladimir Putin’s regime with Russia”.
Speaking in Bonn, Germany, Vladimir Kara-Murza criticized the way the Russian president governs the country, which, according to him, does not represent the entire population.
“The difference between dictatorships and democracies is that in democratic systems the highest value is placed on human life,” said Kara-Murza.
Mentioning the war in Ukraine – which the Kremlin refers to as its special military operation – Kara-Murza added: “The Kremlin’s propaganda wants to make it appear that everyone in Russia supports the war in Ukraine, this is a lie.
“Please don’t let yourselves be convinced that this Kremlin lie has anything to do with real life.”
He added: “I know I will return to Russia, the day will come when Russia will be free.”
Kara-Murza spoke alongside Ilya Yashin and Andrei Pivovarov, who were also released as part of the prisoner exchange agreement between the US and Russia.
He said he was “sincerely happy to be free”, adding that the days since his release felt like “some kind of movie”.
(LR) Andrei Pivovarov, Ilya Yashin and Vladimir Kara-Murza. Photo: X/@vkaramurza
The Russian-British citizen was serving a 25-year sentence for treason.
Fellow released prisoners Mr Pivovarov and Mr Yashin were equally critical of President Putin’s regime.
Pivovarov encouraged leaders of Western countries to “turn to the people, not to power,” adding: “We must do everything to make our country free and democratic.”
Yashin said his goal is to return to Russia and work for a “free” country.
Vladimir Kara-Murza in custody. File photo: Reuters
Around two dozen people from countries such as Russia, the USA, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway and Belarus were changed on Thursday.
The exchange also included Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
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But several political prisoners were not included in the exchange.
In his first words after landing on American soil, Gershkovich spoke about those still in Russian prisons that are not publicly known.
Urging for his release, he told The Guardian: “I’ve just spent a month in prison in Yekaterinburg and basically everyone I sat with is a political prisoner and no one knows them publicly.
“I think it would be good to see if we can do something about them too.”
Those ones returned to Russia as part of the exchange included a couple of “sleeper cells”, prolific cybercriminals and an assassin.
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