The
Observatory has been informed about the
conviction
of Mr Oleg
Orlov,
co-chair of Memorial Human Rights Center (HRC “Memorial”), a
member
organisation of FIDH.
A prominent figure in the defence of human rights in Russia, Mr Orlov
was
awarded the Sakharov
Prize for Freedom of Expression
in 2009, and in 2012 the Moscow Helsinki Group Award
for his "historic contribution to the defence of human rights
and the human rights movement”.
On
October 11, 2023, the Golovinsky District Court of Moscow
found Oleg Orlov guilty of “public actions aimed at discrediting
the use of armed forces of the Russian Federation” (Article
280.3(1) of the Criminal Code) and fined him 150,000 roubles
(approximately 1,409 Euros). His lawyers are planning on appealing
the decision to the Moscow city court.
The
Observatory recalls that on March 21, 2023, the apartments of Oleg
Orlov and eight other members of Memorial were searched
as part of an investigation for alleged “exoneration of Nazism”
(Section 354.1 (2) (c) of the Criminal Code). They were subsequently
taken to the Investigative Committee of the Tverskoy District, Moscow
for interrogation.
All of them were released pending investigation under witness status,
and were given an order of non-disclosure of details of the case.
On
the same day, the Investigative Committee opened criminal proceedings
against Oleg Orlov on the charge of "public actions aimed at
discrediting the use of armed forces of the Russian Federation".
This accusation is based on
an article
written by Oleg Orlov titled “Russia: they wanted fascism, they got
it” (“Russie
: ils voulaient le fascisme, ils l'ont eu”)
published on the French blogging platform Le
Club de Mediapart
on November 13, 2022. Mr Orlov was subsequently placed under travel
restriction for an unknown period of time and he was formally charged
in early April 2023 for his involvement in anti-war movements.
On
April 29, 2023, Oleg Orlov was presented
with a final accusation report by
the Russian Investigative Committee in Moscow, in the presence of his
lawyer, for the charge of “public actions aimed at discrediting the
use of armed forces of the Russian Federation” and his trial
began
on June 8, 2023 in front of the Golovinsky District Court.
The
conviction of Oleg Orlov is another
blow to the Russian human rights organisation Memorial, which had
been dissolved by the authorities in December 2021. This arbitrary
dissolution was later confirmed in
appeal in April 2022.
It is also part of a broader crackdown on anti-war protesters who
oppose the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Observatory recalls
that in 2022, Orlov was fined five times for holding solitary
anti-war demonstrations. Two of these convictions were under the law
on "discrediting the army" (Article 20.3.3 of the
Administrative Code of the Russian Federation).
The
Observatory strongly condemns
the conviction
of Oleg Orlov, and calls on the Russian authorities to immediately
and unconditionally acquit
him
and to stop all acts of harassment, including at the administrative
and judicial levels, against him and all human rights defenders and
organisations
in Russia.
The
Observatory further calls on the authorities in Russia to guarantee
in all circumstances the right to freedom of expression, as enshrined
in international human rights standards, and particularly in Article
19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
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