The wife of a British-Russian dissident jailed in Siberia has met David Cameron to push for more action to secure his release.
Vladimir Kara-Murza was jailed for 25 years by a Moscow court in April 2023 for “treason” after speaking out against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
On Friday, his wife Evgenia Kara-Murza met Lord Cameron after calling for the British Government to take more concrete action on his case.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Mrs Kara-Murza said she was “very happy” that the meeting had taken place after a lengthy campaign and regarded it as “a sign of goodwill on his part”.
She said: “He assured me of his support and his willingness, his preparedness, to fight for Vladimir’s release and to make sure that Vladimir’s case is always publicised.
“So I think, all in all, it went well.”
The meeting took place as fellow dissident Alexei Navalny was buried in Moscow following his death in a Russian prison colony, which most Western leaders have blamed on the Russian state.
Mr Kara-Murza has twice been the target of assassination attempts, and his wife continues to fear for his safety.
She has also called for the creation of a UK representative for hostage affairs, similar to the US special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who has had success in securing the release of American citizens detained in Russia.
She told PA: “I believe that the UK Government’s position on hostages and political prisoners has to change because it is no longer adequate. It is unacceptable to say to one’s citizens that if you end up being imprisoned by a dictator somewhere out there in the world, you’re on your own.”
Asked whether Lord Cameron had been receptive to her argument, she added: “It’s a work in progress and I will continue. I know that there is definitely interest in the UK for the establishment of such an office.”
Calls for the creation of a UK representative for hostage affairs was backed by the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee in a report published around the time Mr Kara-Murza was sentenced, but it later said the recommendation had been rejected by the Government.