- Russian investigators and judge
involved in Vladimir Kara-Murza’s arrest sanctioned
- Two FSB agents connected to the
2015 and 2017 poisonings also sanctioned
- The UK calls for the immediate and
unconditional release of Mr Kara-Murza
Foreign Secretary has today, Friday 21 April,
sanctioned five individuals connected to the poisoning and arrest
of politician and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza, days after his
politically-motivated conviction in Russia.
On Monday Mr Kara-Murza was sentenced to 25 years in prison for
charges including treason and spreading ‘knowingly false
information’ about the Russian armed forces. In reality, he
bravely spoke the truth about Putin’s illegal invasion of
Ukraine.
Today the UK is sanctioning Elena Lenskaya - a judge who approved
Vladimir Kara-Murza’s arrest, along with Denis Kolesnikov and
Andrei Zadachin - investigators involved in the arrest of Mr
Kara-Murza.
FSB agents Alexander Samofal and Konstantin Kudryavtsev have also
been sanctioned. The pair were members of the operational team
which followed Mr Kara-Murza on multiple trips before he was
poisoned both in 2015, three months after close friend and fellow
opposition politician Boris Nemtsov was assassinated, and 2017.
Both have been sanctioned for their part in Russia’s egregious
violation of Mr Kara-Murza’s right not to be subjected to torture
or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Foreign Secretary said:
“Russia’s treatment and conviction of Vladimir Kara-Murza
once again demonstrates its utter contempt for basic human
rights.
“Today five individuals connected to his case have been
sanctioned, sending a clear message that the UK will not stand
for this treatment of one of its citizens.
“The UK will continue to support Mr Kara-Murza and his
family. I call on Russia to release him immediately and
unconditionally.”
As a result of these sanctions all these individuals will be
subject to travel bans and asset freezes.
On Monday the UK summoned the Russian
Ambassador and condemned the sentencing – making it clear
that the UK considers Mr Kara-Murza’s conviction to be contrary
to Russia’s international obligations on human rights, including
the right to a fair trial.
The UK has also previously sanctioned Sergei Podoprigorov, the
judge who presided over Mr Kara-Murza’s trial, and Dmitry Komnov,
the head of the detention centre where Mr Kara-Murza is being
held.
In January, the Minister for Europe met Mr Kara-Murza’s wife to
discuss his case and treatment. FCDO officials have attended Mr
Kara-Murza’s court hearings in Moscow throughout the year and
officials have repeatedly raised Mr Kara-Murza’s case with the
Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Russian Embassy.
The UK and international partners invoked the OSCE’s Moscow
Mechanism on 28 July 2022, sending a mission of experts to
investigate following concerns over Russia's repression of human
rights. The September report revealed how
Russia has been waging a campaign of repression against its own
people.
We are taking forward the report’s recommendations, and have
helped secure a United Nations Human Rights Council Special
Rapporteur. They will be charged with undertaking country visits,
acting on individual cases of reported violations and concerns of
a broader nature, and raising public awareness and providing
advice for technical cooperation.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
-
Elena Anatolievna Lenskaya is the Russian
judge who approved the arrest of Vladimir Kara-Murza. On 22
April 2022 Vladimir Kara-Murza was arrested for disseminating
false information about the Russian army under the “fake news”
law. This law is a part of a Russian Government policy aimed at
preventing the Russian public from knowing the truth about the
invasion of Ukraine and punishing those criticising the
war. Lenskaya is subject to a travel ban, asset freeze,
and will not be able to access UK trust services.
-
Denis Vladimirovich Kolesnikov is the Head of
the Investigative Department at the Investigative Committee of
the Russian Federation. Kolesnikov approved the decision to
recommend the arrest of Vladimir Kara-Murza for disseminating
false information about the Russian under the so-called “fake
news” law. Kolesnikov is subject to a travel ban, asset freeze,
and will not be able to access UK trust services.
-
Andrei Zadachin is an investigator in the Main
Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of the
Russian Federation. He built the criminal case against and
recommended the arrest of Vladimir Kara-Murza. Zadachin is
subject to a travel ban, asset freeze, and trust service
sanctions.
-
Konstantin Kudryavstev is an FSB official
connected to the attempted poisonings of Vladimir Kara-Murza as
a member of the operational team that followed Mr Kara-Murza
prior to the poisonings. Kudryavstev has been associated with
other incidents relating to political opponents, including the
attack on Alexey Navalny in 2020. Kudryavstev is subject to a
travel ban and asset freeze.
-
Alexander Samofal is an FSB officer connected
to the attempted poisonings of Vladimir Kara-Murza as a member
of the operational team that followed Mr Kara-Murza prior to
the poisonings. Somfal’s movements mirrored Kara-Murza's on
several separate trips, including immediately before the first
reported poisoning incident in 2015, and in the months
preceding the second incident in 2017. Samofal is subject
to a travel ban and asset freeze.
