Russian Opposition Leader Kara-Murza Warns France’s Sanctions U-Turn Emboldens Putin’s War

In an exclusive interview with RFI, Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza criticized France for taking what he described as a perilous step backward in Western policy toward Moscow. His remarks came in response to Paris’s successful push to delist Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov from the EU sanctions roster—a move Kara-Murza labeled as fundamentally misguided and potentially harmful.

The European Union had initially imposed restrictive measures on Usmanov, a prominent metals magnate with close ties to President Vladimir Putin, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. These sanctions were revoked on 22 September at France’s request, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the matter.

Russia’s renewed aggression and escalation in attacks against Kyiv further underscore Kara-Murza’s concerns. He argues that Putin’s regime relies on perpetual conflict to maintain domestic control and suppress dissent. Speaking from RFI’s studios in Paris, he emphasized that lasting peace remains impossible under Putin’s rule, given the Kremlin’s entrenched authoritarianism and systematic suppression of opposition voices.

RFI: With over four and a half years of war now raging in Ukraine, why is Russia intensifying its strikes—especially those targeting Kyiv?

Vladimir Kara-Murza: Vladimir Putin has ruled Russia for nearly three decades. During this time, his regime has consistently resorted to violence—at home and abroad. Under Putin, war becomes synonymous with governance; aggression fuels retention of power.

As long as he remains in control, this war will persist—it is essential to his survival. He is an illegitimate leader who maintains authority through force rather than democratic mandate. There have been no genuine elections in Russia for years.

RFI: Didn’t Russia hold parliamentary elections in September?

VKM: Indeed—and they’re sham votes orchestrated by a regime that monopolizes both media and politics. Even then, the sole anti-war party, Yabloko—a liberal group advocating for an immediate ceasefire—was barred from participating. They feared public support could expose the facade of widespread backing for the war.

Nevertheless, their exclusion inadvertently confirms how hollow the propaganda truly is.

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                    <figcaption class="a-figcaption">
            Vladimir Kara-Murza, an exiled Russian opposition figure and former political prisoner, at RFI's studios in Paris on 8 October.        © RFI    </figcaption>                                    </figure><p><strong>RFI: You were handed a 25-year prison sentence for criticizing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and charged with treason...</strong></p><p><strong>VKM:</strong> Yes. Speaking out publicly against the government—especially the war—is now criminalized in Russia.</p><p>Currently, there are over 2,000 recognized political prisoners detained in Russia. Compare that to the mid-1980s when fewer than 750 were documented throughout the entire Soviet Union—an area encompassing fifteen current nations.</p><p><strong>RFI: Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov recently denied the existence of political prisoners in Russia. How do you respond?</strong></p><p><strong>VKM:</strong> This denial isn’t unprecedented. In the 1950s, Nikita Khrushchev made similar claims, dismissing dissidents as criminals or lunatics.</p><p>Yet what strikes me most is that just two weeks ago, France led efforts to lift sanctions on two influential figures linked to Putin—Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman.</p><p>The EU followed suit based on France’s initiative. To me, this signals that parts of the West—including France—are prepared to normalize relations with Putin’s regime prematurely.</p><p><strong>RFI: Why is this decision so troubling to you?</strong></p><p><strong>VKM:</strong> It sends a dangerous message—one that opens a Pandora’s box where every oligarch may demand reinstatement without consequence.</p><p>However, my criticism extends beyond France alone. Globally, Western nations like Canada are rolling back penalties against figures such as Anatoly Chubais, signaling a worrying shift toward accommodation.</p><p><strong>RFI: Is there momentum behind diplomatic engagement with Putin?</strong></p><p><strong>VKM:</strong> Such logic defies historical precedent. Appeasement rarely brings peace—it emboldens tyrants until they seek more concessions. History teaches us this clearly.</p><p>Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump extended an invitation to Putin—wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes—to attend next month’s G20 summit. When America, once hailed as the beacon of democracy, legitimizes a fugitive dictator, we witness moral decay.</p><p>I lack words—even in Russian—to convey my dismay.</p><p><strong>RFI: As exiles, both you and Garry Kasparov face threats. Do you personally fear for your safety?</strong></p><p><strong>VKM:</strong> Possibly. Still, I avoid dwelling on hypothetical dangers. Putin’s forces poisoned me twice (in 2015 and 2017) before sentencing me to a quarter-century behind bars. Prison offered countless opportunities for retaliation—but none materialized.</p><p>Still, recent disclosures from the U.S. Department of Justice suggest new risks even outside traditional battlegrounds like London or Berlin.</p><p><strong>RFI: Have you taken additional precautions?</strong></p><p><strong>VKM:</strong> Not particularly. Worrying constantly breeds paranoia. My priorities lie elsewhere—in advancing freedom for my homeland.</p><p>My conviction remains unwavering: I champion change so Russia might evolve into a democratic European state. Every effort counts toward hastening that future.</p><p><em>This interview originally aired in French on RFI, translated and adapted by Arnaud Pontus.</em></p>

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