hello and welcome to bbc news. we start in moscow where a prominent critic of vladimir putin has been sentenced to 25 years in prison. the journalist and opposition activist vladimir kara murza played a key role in persuading western governments to sanction russian officials for human rights abuses and corruption. the us says it s evidence of an escalating campaign of repression in russia. the eu called it unacceptable. the uk summoned the russian ambassador. here s our russia editor, steve rosenberg. handcuffed and in a bullet proof cage, one of president putin s most prominent critics. vladimir kara murza faced multiple charges, including treason. the verdict, guilty. the punishment, the maximum possible. 25 years in prison. access to the courtroom was heavily restricted. along with otherjournalists and foreign diplomats, we crowded into another room to watch on tv screens. for more than a decade, vladimir kara murza has been a high profile opponent of the kremlin. he helpe
to try to secure his release? we are continuing to ask for consular access to mr kara murza and we will continue to do that. for a critic of the kremlin, a political opponent of president putin, a prison sentence of 25 years is unprecedented in its severity. and it s a sign that, in today s russia, the authorities are determined not only to silence all criticism, but to neutralise anyone and anything they believe could be a threat to the political system here. there will be an appeal, but there is little hope there will be a different outcome. let s speak to marina litvinenko, the wife of alexander litvinenko murdered with radioactive pollonium in london in 2006. polonium in london in 2006. marina said she was not surprised by the verdict your reaction? the prosecutor asked
steve rosenberg. handcuffed and in a bullet proof cage, one of president putin s most prominent critics. vladimir kara murza faced multiple charges, including treason. the verdict, guilty. the punishment, the maximum possible 25 years in prison. access to the courtroom was heavily restricted. along with otherjournalists and foreign diplomats, we crowded into another room to watch on tv screens. for more than a decade, vladimir kara murza has been a high profile opponent of the kremlin. he helped persuade western governments to impose sanctions on russian officials for corruption and human rights violations. and he publicly condemned the war in ukraine. mr kara murza is also a british citizen. the uk hasjoined international condemnation of what happened here today. the british government will continue to support him, and stand in solidarity with him
point, if russia wants to freed some of their agent in the united states and europe, vladimir kara murza might be exchanged. in particular the sentence gives me some hope for this. ~ ., , ., ~ the sentence gives me some hope for this. ~ ., , ., ~ ., this. where do you think we are with russia? we this. where do you think we are with russia? we have this. where do you think we are with russia? we have the this. where do you think we are with russia? we have the war this. where do you think we are with russia? we have the war in - this. where do you think we are with j russia? we have the war in ukraine, we have seen all sorts of extraordinary breaches of international norms. how would you characterise putin s reggie and pete and s russia? it characterise putin s reggie and pete and s russia? and s russia? it unfortunately took so lona and s russia? it unfortunately took so long time and s russia? it unfortunately took so long time to and s russia? it unfortunately took so l