We are thrilled that justice has prevailed and Vladmir Kara-Murza, Old Lyonian (OL), has finally been freed from prison in Russia in a historic prisoner exchange.

Vladimir Kara-Murza (OL 2000) is a Russian-British political activist, journalist, author, historian and former political prisoner. Born in Moscow, Kara-Murza moved to London at a young age and studied here at John Lyon School where he excelled as a pupil in music and politics, before achieving a BAand MA in history at Trinity Hall Cambridge. He is married to Yevgenia and they have three children together.

He started his career as a journalist in London for several Russian media outlets and went on to became foreign affairs correspondent and then Washington correspondent for the BBC. Vladimir became editor-in-chief of the London-based financial publication Russian Investment Review in 2002 and in 2004, he took over as the Washington bureau chief of the RTVi television network.

Vladimir has been vocal on social and political matters in Russia for many years and a firm advocate for   democracy, human rights and the rule of law. He frequently spoke on international platforms to encourage co-operation and dialogue among nations.

In April 2022, after referring to Putin’s government as a ‘regime of murders’, Vladimir was arrested and charged by Russian courts for allegedly spreading false information about the Russian military.  In October 2022, whilst in prison, he received the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison in April 2023.

On 1 August 2024, Vladimir was among 16 prisoners in Russia who were pardoned as part of a prisoner exchange. David Lammy, Foreign Secretary, welcomed the release stating that Kara-Murza had been "imprisoned in life-threatening conditions because he courageously told the truth about the war in Ukraine."

We are immensely proud of our former pupil and cannot comprehend what he and his family have endured during his life to date. We wish him every happiness in his newfound freedom and, when the time is right and he has settled, it would be an honour to have Vladimir visit us in Harrow-on-the-Hill and share his journey with our pupils and staff. Best wishes from all at John Lyon School.