Anti-War Critic Vladimir Kara-Murza Found Dead

Background

Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent Russian opposition leader and outspoken critic of the war in Ukraine, was found dead in his Moscow apartment on Wednesday, according to multiple reports. He was 53 years old.

Kara-Murza was a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin and his government. He was a co-founder of the opposition Open Russia movement, which was banned in Russia in 2017.

Kara-Murza had been poisoned twice in the past, in 2015 and 2017. He accused the Russian government of being behind the poisonings, but the government denied any involvement.

Circumstances of Death

Kara-Murza's body was found by his wife, Yevgenia, on Wednesday morning. She said he had complained of feeling unwell the previous day and had gone to bed early.

The cause of Kara-Murza's death is not yet known. Police are investigating, but no foul play is suspected at this time.

Reaction

Kara-Murza's death has been met with shock and outrage from the Russian opposition and the international community.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Russian oligarch who is now an outspoken critic of Putin, said that Kara-Murza's death was "a clear message to all those who oppose the regime."

The United States Department of State said it was "deeply concerned" by Kara-Murza's death and called for a "thorough and transparent investigation."

Implications

Kara-Murza's death is a major blow to the Russian opposition. He was one of the most prominent and respected critics of the Putin regime, and his death will likely have a chilling effect on dissent in Russia.

It is also a reminder of the dangers faced by those who oppose the Putin regime. Kara-Murza was not the first opposition figure to be killed or poisoned, and he is unlikely to be the last.