Britain’s foreign minister David Cameron criticized the recent Russian elections, describing them as indicative of “the depth of repression” under President Vladimir Putin’s rule.
Despite the Kremlin’s portrayal of Putin’s re-election for a fifth term as a strong show of support from the people, Cameron denounced the outcome as undemocratic.
In a statement, Cameron highlighted the repressive nature of Putin’s regime, accusing it of silencing opposition voices, controlling the media, and manipulating the electoral process.
He specifically pointed to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, labeling them as “illegal war.” Cameron also referenced the death of Putin’s political rival Alexei Navalny, calling it a tragic example of political repression in Russia.
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Cameron called for the immediate release of all political prisoners in Russia, including British-Russian dual-national Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for speaking out against the war in Ukraine.
Kara-Murza has faced serious health issues, allegedly due to poisoning attempts orchestrated by Russia’s FSB security service.