The below is attributable to Spokesperson Benjamin Suarato:
On September 16, Administrator Power met with democracy advocate Vladimir Kara-Murza, who is the Vice President of the Free Russia Foundation, fellow activist and spouse Evgenia Kara-Murza, and Natalia Arno, the President of the Free Russia Foundation, to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by Russians working to support democracy and the anti-war movement in Russia. Prior to his release on August 1 in the prisoner exchange secured by the Biden-Harris Administration and other Allies, Vladimir Kara-Murza was imprisoned in Russia for speaking out against Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Administrator, the Kara-Murzas, and Arno spoke about the current environment for Russian activists working for a free and democratic future in Russia, and discussed the risks these brave individuals face – including harassment, persecution, and violent repression – and the crucial need for continued international support. The Administrator articulated the United States’ continued commitment to support Russians who are standing up to repression and corruption and demanding a government that is more democratic and responsive to its citizens.