If you’re lucky in life, you get to know a great man, and those of us who know Vladimir Kara-Murza are very lucky indeed. He is a Russian journalist, historian, and politician. He worked alongside Boris Nemtsov, the leader of the opposition (murdered in 2015). Twice, Vladimir has survived murder attempts, by poison. For the past year, he has been a political prisoner.
Vladimir is being tried for high treason, because he criticized the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine. His health is very poor. He has now made his final statement in court.
Here is an excerpt:
The criminal, of course, must repent of his deeds. I’m in jail for my political views. For speaking out against the war in Ukraine. For many years of struggle against Vladimir Putin’s dictatorship. For facilitating the adoption of personal international sanctions under the Magnitsky Act . . .
Not only do I not repent of any of this, I am proud of it. I am proud that Boris Nemtsov brought me into politics. And I hope that he is not ashamed of me. . . .
I blame myself for only one thing: that over the years of my political activity I have not managed to convince enough of my compatriots and enough politicians in the democratic countries of the danger that the current regime in the Kremlin poses for Russia and for the world. Today this is obvious to everyone, but at a terrible price — the price of war.
Pace Vladimir, it is not obvious to everyone. Certainly in my world. To take one example — as repulsive as they get — here is a tweet by a fellow of the Claremont Institute.
Back to Kara-Murza, who says,
In their last statements to the court, defendants usually ask for an acquittal. For a person who has not committed any crimes, acquittal would be the only fair verdict. But I do not ask this court for anything. I know the verdict. I knew it a year ago when I saw people in black uniforms and black masks running after my car in the rearview mirror. Such is the price for speaking up in Russia today.
But I also know that the day will come when the darkness over our country will dissipate. When black will be called black and white will be called white; when at the official level it will be recognized that two times two is still four; when a war will be called a war, and a usurper a usurper; and when those who kindled and unleashed this war, rather than those who tried to stop it, will be recognized as criminals.
This day will come as inevitably as spring follows even the coldest winter. And then our society will open its eyes and be horrified by what terrible crimes were committed on its behalf. From this realization, from this reflection, the long, difficult but vital path toward the recovery and restoration of Russia, its return to the community of civilized countries, will begin.
Even today, even in the darkness surrounding us, even sitting in this cage, I love my country and believe in our people. I believe that we can walk this path.
My hope is that Vladimir Kara-Murza will be remembered as a Russian hero — and a human one — when Putin, his partners, and his supporters around the world are nothing but dust.