by Abbey Fenbert and The Kyiv Independent news desk
Sept 22, 2024
Russian President Vladimir Putin “must not be allowed” to win the full-scale war against Ukraine, Russian opposition figure and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza said during a press conference at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London on Sept. 20.
Kara-Murza was released from a Russian penal colony on Aug. 1 as part of a historic prisoner exchange between the West and Russia. He had been sentenced to 25 years in prison in April 2023 for condemning Russia’s all-out war in Ukraine.
“Vladimir Putin must not be allowed to win this war in Ukraine,” Kara-Murza said at the press conference, organized jointly by RUSI and the Global Magnitsky Justice Campaign.
“More than that, he must not be allowed to have a face-saving exit from this war.”
Kara-Murza reportedly also met with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Sept. 20 to urge Western governments to provide stronger support for Ukraine’s defense.
During the RUSI press conference, Kara-Murza went on to say that Western nations should prepare for the Russian Federation to transition to a democratic government after Putin eventually leaves office.
“None of us knows exactly when, exactly in what circumstances, but it’s going to happen in the very foreseeable future. And next time, we must get this right.”
Putin holds a high approval rating among the Russian population (over 80%, according to independent polls), though those numbers have fallen some as the full-scale war drags on. Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk Oblast has also reportedly increased social discontent in Russia.
A September 2024 poll found that nearly half of Russians may support the withdrawal of troops from Ukraine, even if the Kremlin’s military goals are not achieved.
Kara-Murza also advocated for the release of more Russian political prisoners.
“I wake up every morning and I go to sleep every night thinking about all the others who are still left behind,” he said.
A dual Russian-British citizen, Kara-Murza was charged with “treason” and “spreading false information,” among other crimes, after being arrested in April 2022.
While imprisoned, Kara-Murza won the Pulitzer Prize in May 2024 for the commentary he wrote from his prison cell.
Kara-Murza was released in a historic swap along with fellow Russian dissident Ilya Yashin, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan, and Russian-American journalist Alsa Kurmashova.
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From Vladimir Kara-Murza’s FB page yesterday:
A good conversation at 10 Downing Street today with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy. As a bonus, my son got to pet Larry the Number 10 Cat 😸
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Ten years ago, 21 September 2014. The March of Peace in Moscow against the war in Ukraine, organised by Boris Nemtsov. Tens of thousands of people on the Boulevard Ring, from Pushkin Square to Sakharov Avenue, with the slogan “Peace to Ukraine, freedom to Russia!” One day, I know, those words will become a reality.
Russia COULD have a future. It lies with this delicate little fellow; the protege of the late, great Boris Nemtsov: Vladimir Kara-Murza.
With the help of people like Gary Kasparov and Mikhail Khordorkovsky, he could take a post-putler Russia from the lowest depths of depravity to something resembling normality.
I never took note of Kara-Murza. If anything he has phenomenal courage given what’s going on in Moskali. I wish him well and with God’s blessing we can see “Peace to Ukraine, freedom to Russia!” sung out loud in the streets.
Mr Kara-Murza’s son is indeed privileged to meet Larry the cat; a 17 year old civil servant who has presided over six Prime Ministers and two Monarchs in his time. From 10 Downing Street website :
Early life.
“Larry was born as a stray cat around January 2007 and later came into the possession of the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. In 2011, he was adopted by Downing Street staff, initially intended to be a pet for David Cameron’s children. He was described by Downing Street sources as a “good ratter” and as having “a high chase-drive and hunting instinct”. In 2012, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said that Larry’s publicity had resulted in a 15% increase in cat adoptions.”
Official duties:
“Larry’s duties are described as “greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality”. It says he is “contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house” and has told Downing Street that such a solution is still in the “tactical planning stage”.
Unlike his predecessors since 1929, Larry’s costs are funded voluntarily by members of staff with no cost to public funds. Fundraising events to pay for his food are believed to have included a quiz night, held in the state rooms. David Cameron explained during his final Prime Minister’s Questions in 2016 that Larry is a civil servant and not personal property, and would therefore not leave Downing Street after his successor took office. Larry has retained his position through May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak, and Starmer ministries.”