Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza explains how Putin transformed Russia from a democracy to au
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Keynote Speaker
Russian Opposition Leader; Political Activist; Journalist; Author; Filmmaker; Former Political Prisoner
Vladimir Kara-Murza is a leading voice on democracy, human rights, and the global fight against authoritarianism. A prominent Russian opposition leader, historian, and former political prisoner, he brings firsthand insight into the risks faced by those who challenge repressive regimes and the stakes for democratic institutions worldwide. With moral clarity and compelling storytelling, Kara-Murza engages audiences on resilience, courage, and why defending democratic values matters for business, government, and civil society alike.
Request Availability
Vladimir Kara-Murza's speaking fee: $25K - $40K
Vladimir Kara-Murza is a Russian politician, author, historian, documentary filmmaker, and former political prisoner. A close colleague of the slain opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, he served as deputy leader of the People’s Freedom Party and was a candidate for the Russian Parliament. Leading diplomatic efforts on behalf of the opposition, Kara-Murza played a key role in the adoption of Magnitsky sanctions against top Russian officials by the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, and Australia. For this work, he was twice poisoned and left in a coma; a joint media investigation by Bellingcat, The Insider, and Der Spiegel has identified FSB officers behind the attacks. In April 2022, Kara-Murza was arrested in Moscow for publicly denouncing the invasion of Ukraine and war crimes committed by Russian forces. Following a closed-door trial at the Moscow City Court, he was sentenced to 25 years for “high treason” and kept in solitary confinement at a maximum-security prison in Siberia. He was released in August 2024 as part of the largest East-West prisoner exchange since the Cold War, negotiated by the U.S. and German governments. Kara-Murza is a contributing writer at the Washington Post, winning the 2024 Pulitzer Prize for his columns written from prison, and has previously worked for Echo of Moscow, BBC, RTVi, Kommersant, World Affairs, and other media organizations. He has directed three documentary films and is the author or contributor to several books on Russian history and politics. Kara-Murza serves as vice-president at the Free Russia Foundation, as senior advisor at Human Rights First, and as senior fellow at the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. He was the founding chairman of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom and has led successful international efforts to commemorate Nemtsov, including with street designations in Washington D.C. and London. Kara-Murza is a recipient of several awards, including the Council of Europe’s Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, and is an honorary fellow at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
Featured Videos
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza – Speaking out after prisoner swap
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza on the “social contract” in Putin’s Russia
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza on Russia’s future after Putin
Vladimir Kara-Murza
Vladimir Kara-Murza explains how Putin transformed Russia from a democracy to au
Vladimir Kara-Murza’s Speech Topics
-
Courage Under Pressure, Defending Democracy in an Age of Authoritarianism
Drawing on his extraordinary personal experience as a Russian opposition leader and former political prisoner, Vladimir Kara-Murza explores what it truly means to stand up for democratic values when the cost is personal freedom, safety, and certainty. He offers a powerful, firsthand perspective on how authoritarian systems operate, why they are gaining ground globally, and what individuals, institutions, and businesses can do to defend the principles of accountability, truth, and rule of law. The talk is both sobering and inspiring, leaving audiences with a deeper understanding of resilience, moral courage, and the real-world stakes of leadership in turbulent times.
Vladimir Kara-Murza Topics & Types
REQUEST AVAILABILITY
Tell us about your event and the speaker you are interested in booking and we will be in touch right away.