Political Activist, Journalist & Historian; Vice President at Free Russia Foundation; Pulitzer Prize-Winning Columnist; Author of "One Day Free"

Washington, DC, USA
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Vladimir Kara-Murza Biography

Vladimir Kara-Murza is a Russian-British political activist, journalist, author, historian, and documentary filmmaker known for his work in democracy and human rights advocacy in Russia. Kara-Murza began his career as a journalist with Echo of Moscow, BBC, RTVi, and Kommersant before transitioning into politics. He was a colleague of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov, a candidate for the Russian Parliament, and served as deputy leader of the People's Freedom Party. Kara-Murza played a significant role in diplomatic efforts that led to the adoption of Magnitsky sanctions targeting Russian human rights violators in the United States, European Union, Canada, and Great Britain.

Kara-Murza's activism resulted in personal risk. He survived two assassination attempts by poisoning, attributed to operatives of the Russian Federal Security Service, as identified by investigations from Bellingcat, The Insider, and Der Spiegel. After recovering from organ failure and extensive therapy, Kara-Murza continued his work as a filmmaker and advocate. His documentaries include "They Chose Freedom," "Nemtsov," and "My Duty to Not Stay Silent." He is also the author of "Reform or Revolution: The Quest for Responsible Government in the First Russian State Duma."

Kara-Murza was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in a Russian penal colony for his public opposition to the war in Ukraine and criticism of the Russian government. He spent more than two years in prison, including 11 months in solitary confinement in Siberia, before being released in a major East-West prisoner exchange. During his imprisonment, Kara-Murza contributed columns to The Washington Post, which were recognized with the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary. The award citation highlighted his columns written under significant personal risk, addressing dissent in Russia and advocating for democracy.

Following his release, Kara-Murza has continued to advocate for democratic reforms in Russia. He serves as vice president at the Free Russia Foundation and holds senior advisory roles at the McCain Institute, Human Rights First, and the Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights. Kara-Murza has been profiled on CBS 60 Minutes and NBC Nightly News, and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, and BBC Newsnight.

Kara-Murza has received several international honors, including the Council of Europe's Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, the Sakharov Prize for Journalism as an Act of Conscience, the Magnitsky Human Rights Award, and the Geneva Summit Courage Award. He is an honorary fellow at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. Based in the United States, Kara-Murza is the author of the memoir "One Day Free," which he describes as both a personal testimony and a historical chronicle of life under President Vladimir Putin.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 10/21/2026.

Vladimir Kara-Murza Speaking Topics

  • Freedom and Dissent in Contemporary Russia

  • Russian Democracy Activism

Vladimir Kara-Murza Videos

Former Russian prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza adjusting to newfound freedom

Former Russian prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza adjusting to newfound freedom

Vladimir Kara-Murza vows to return to Russia after prisoner swap

Vladimir Kara-Murza vows to return to Russia after prisoner swap

The Putin Files: Vladimir Kara-Murza

The Putin Files: Vladimir Kara-Murza

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  • What topics does Vladimir Kara-Murza speak about?

    Vladimir Kara-Murza is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Civil Rights, Democracy, European Heritage, Journalist, Political, Social Activism, Social Justice, Television & Film
  • Where does Vladimir Kara-Murza travel from?

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Vladimir Kara-Murza is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Freedom and Dissent in Contemporary Russia and Russian Democracy Activism. The estimated speaking fee range to book Vladimir Kara-Murza for your event is available upon request. Vladimir Kara-Murza generally travels from Washington, DC, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ijeoma Oluo, Julissa Arce, Charles Blow, Van Jones and Anita Hill. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Vladimir Kara-Murza for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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