Russian Dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza Honored with John McCain Leadership Award

The Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, recently freed in a prisoner exchange, was recognized for his courage in opposing Putin's regime and denouncing the war in Ukraine.

• Vladimir Kara-Murza, a Kremlin critic and journalist, received the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service at the Halifax International Security Forum in Canada.
• The award honors individuals demonstrating extraordinary leadership in advancing human justice, with Kara-Murza dedicating the recognition to Russians opposing Putin's regime.
• Kara-Murza was released earlier this year in the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, after being imprisoned for treason since April 2022 for criticizing the war in Ukraine.
• A Pulitzer Prize winner for commentary, Kara-Murza has survived two near-fatal poisonings, which he attributes to Russian authorities, and continues to advocate for justice despite personal risks.
• The John McCain Prize has previously been awarded to groups such as the people of Hong Kong and Lesbos, Greece, for their efforts in defending human rights and aiding refugees.

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