By RFE/RL

Russia's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by jailed dissident and journalist Vladimir Kara-Murza against his conviction and 25-year sentence, the longest prison term handed to a Kremlin opponent in post-Soviet Russia. Kara-Murza was convicted of treason and discrediting the military over his criticism of the invasion of Ukraine and other government actions in speeches outside Russia. Local media reported the court decision on May 14. Kara-Murza was arrested in 2022 upon his return to Russia following talks in the United States and Europe where he called President Vladimir Putin a war criminal for his decision to invade Ukraine. A month before his arrest, Putin signed legislation that essentially outlawed criticism of the war.