Chancellor Olaf Scholz received Kremlin opponent Vladimir Kara-Mursa, who was released from Russian captivity, in Berlin. “I admire the strength and courage of Vladimir Kara-Mursa and his tireless commitment to a democratic future for Russia,” wrote the SPD politician on Platform X. “We secured his release during the prisoner exchange in August, and today we had the opportunity to talk to each other at length.”

Kara-Mursa is one of more than 20 prisoners who were released in early August in an unprecedented prisoner exchange between Russia and the USA, Germany and other Western countries. After his release, he first traveled to Germany. US President Joe Biden later received him in Washington.

The 42-year-old is one of the most prominent opposition figures in Russia. He was sentenced to 25 years in a prison camp in April 2023 on charges of high treason.