U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations
09/17/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/17/2024 20:48
Chair Cardin Hosts “Set Them Free: Recognizing Vladimir Kara-Murza and Prisoners of the Kremlin”
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, hosted a bipartisan gathering of lawmakers, human rights advocates, and Biden Administration officials to renew the call for the release of political prisoners in Russia and support those fighting for democracy. The event, "Set Them Free: Recognizing Vladimir Kara-Murza and Prisoners of the Kremlin," highlighted the ongoing struggle for justice across Eastern Europe and highlighted the courage of Russian democracy activists.
This served as a follow-up to the Committee's April event with Kara-Murza's wife, Evgenia, and their children. During that earlier gathering, held on the eve of the second anniversary of Vladimir's arrest in Moscow, which focused on the plight of Kara-Murza and other political prisoners under Putin's regime, Chair Cardin pledged to fight for their freedom and led a heartfelt letter-writing effort where speakers read from personal messages that were sent to Kara-Murza in his penal colony in Omsk, Russia.
At today's event, Chair Cardin welcomed Kara-Murza back to freedom, reading aloud a letter he had written during the April event, in anticipation of his eventual release:
"It fills me with immense joy to learn that you have finally been freed from the dark confines of a prison cell in Russia and reunited with your beloved wife and children," wrote Chair Cardin. "Your return is both a personal victory and a testament to the unwavering strength of the human spirit, renewing hope for all who have stood by your side. This news truly restores our nation's optimism for what we can achieve when we never give up on fighting for what's right."
"I can only imagine the hardships you endured behind those walls, but I know your courage and determination remained unshaken," continued the letter. "The same resolve that carried you through those dark days will now fuel your fight for a brighter, freer future for Russia. Putin's grip on power, built on lies and repression, will one day crumble, and your valor, Vladimir, is part of that future-a reminder that no prison can contain the truth, and no dictator can silence the voice of freedom forever."
During the event, Chair Cardin presented Kara-Murza with a resolution condemning Russia's unjust detention, that was adopted by the U.S. Senate on November 2, 2023, calling for the release of Kara-Murza from prison and recognizing his courageous defense of democracy, the rule of law, and fair elections, all at great personal risk. Chair Cardin has consistently joined bipartisan efforts to label Kara-Murza as wrongfully detained and has remained a leading advocate for his release, leading resolutions calling for the release of wrongfully detained Americans, including recently freed Wall Street reporter Evan Gershkovich, Radio Free Europe journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, and former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.
Today's event speakers included:
- Vladimir Kara-Murza, Russian democratic opposition leader and human rights advocate
- Evgenia Kara-Murza, human rights advocate
- Damon Wilson, President and CEO, National Endowment for Democracy
- Natalia Arno, President of the Free Russia Foundation
- Jim O'Brien, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. State Department
- Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)
- Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.)
- Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.)
- Senator Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
- Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.)
- Representative Bill Keating (D-Mass.)
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