London on Monday demanded the immediate release of Kremlin critic and British dual-national Vladimir Kara-Murza after he was sentenced on charges including treason following a closed-door trial in Moscow.

The UK will continue “to call for Mr Kara-Murza’s immediate release,” said foreign minister James Cleverly, as his ministry summoned Russian ambassador Andrey Kelin over the case.

The Moscow court sentenced Kara-Murza to 25 years in jail amid an intensifying crackdown on opposition voices since Russia launched its Ukraine offensive.

The court said it found Kara-Murza guilty of high treason, spreading “false” information about the Russian army and being affiliated with an “undesirable organisation”, according to an AFP journalist present in the Moscow court.

“Russia’s lack of commitment to protecting fundamental human rights, including freedom of expression, is alarming,” said Cleverly.
“We continue to urge Russia to adhere to its international obligations including Vladimir Kara-Murza’s entitlement to proper healthcare,” he added.

The Foreign Office condemned the “politically-motivated conviction” and said it will “consider further measures for holding to account those involved in Vladimir Kara-Murza’s detention and mistreatment”.
London has already sanctioned the judge that presided over the trial for “previous involvement in human rights violations”.