Chairman Smith Deeply Concerned about Illness of Vladimir Kara-Murza

WASHINGTON—Following the sudden and debilitating illness of Russian political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, Helsinki Commission Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) issued the following statement:

"I am deeply concerned about the mysterious illness of Vladimir Kara-Murza, especially given the recent murder of Boris Nemtsov and the number of Putin's opponents who have been poisoned. I strongly urge the Russian government to guarantee Mr. Kara-Murza's safety and facilitate his transfer to a hospital outside of the Russian Federation for further evaluation and care."

In 2011, Mr. Kara-Murza spoke at a Helsinki Commission briefing, "Russia's Upcoming Elections and the Struggle for Public and Competitive Politics."