Former Russian political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza was recently released from a Siberian prison and reunited with his wife, Evgenia, and their son in London. Vladimir, a journalist turned political activist, had been targeted by the same FSB unit that had poisoned Alexei Navalny. He compares his experience in the Siberian gulag to the works of Solzhenitsyn and other writers of the Stalinist era, finding the conditions shockingly familiar.
Evgenia, who had tirelessly worked for her husband’s release, likened herself to the Decembrist wives of the 19th century who followed their husbands to Siberia. The emotion of his sudden freedom and the loss of Navalny, who was intended to be part of the same exchange, still hasn’t sunk in for them.
Vladimir believes in the eventual collapse of Putin’s regime and emphasizes the role of a free and democratic Russia in achieving peace in Europe. He criticizes both the Russian people and western leaders for enabling Putin’s aggression.
Despite the challenges and adversities, the Kara-Murza family remains hopeful. Vladimir’s certainty in Russia’s eventual transformation and the release of hidden truths gives them strength. Sitting in London, Vladimir amusingly compares himself to Evgeny Lebedev, a British figure with ties to Russia, highlighting the interconnectedness of global politics.
Their story serves as a flickering light from the heart of Putin’s darkness and a reminder of resilience in the face of political repression and adversity. The Kara-Murzas’ journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and hope in the fight for freedom and democracy.
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