Russian Activist Sentenced for Criticizing Ukraine War

Oleg Orlov, a renowned human rights activist and co-chair of Nobel laureate Memorial, received a 2½-year prison sentence in Moscow for repeatedly criticizing the Russian military and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

In a verdict that underscores the Russian government's intolerance for criticism of the war in Ukraine, a Moscow court has convicted and sentenced veteran human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov to 2½ years in prison. Orlov, who is 70 years old and co-chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial, was found guilty of "repeatedly discrediting" the Russian military.

Orlov's Trial and Conviction

Orlov had vehemently rejected the charges against him, asserting that they were politically motivated. In his closing statement, he expressed no regrets or remorse, and he reiterated his condemnation of the war. Despite his impassioned defense, Orlov was handcuffed and taken into custody immediately after the verdict was delivered. This outcome concluded a retrial, as Orlov had previously been convicted and fined in October 2023.

The prosecution, dissatisfied with the initial punishment, appealed the verdict, seeking a harsher sentence. According to the independent Russian news outlet Mediazona, the prosecution alleged that Orlov's anti-war article was motivated by hostility toward traditional Russian values and hatred of the military.

Memorial's Response and International Condemnation

Memorial, the human rights group that Orlov co-chairs, swiftly responded to the verdict, denouncing it as an attempt to silence the human rights movement in Russia and suppress any criticism of the state. The organization vowed to continue its work despite the challenges and repression.

The verdict drew a significant crowd of supporters, including 18 Western diplomats, who gathered to express their solidarity with Orlov. US Ambassador Lynne Tracy expressed alarm and concern over the outcome, highlighting Orlov's long-standing dedication to fighting for the rights of Russians. She emphasized that his previous efforts had been recognized and honored at the highest levels, but in today's Russia, he is being punished for the same actions.

Previous Conviction and Retrial

In October 2023, Orlov was initially convicted and fined 150,000 rubles (approximately USD 1,500 at the time). This punishment was significantly milder compared to the lengthy prison sentences imposed on others who criticized the war. However, both the defense and the prosecution appealed the verdict, leading a higher court to void the fine and remand the case back to the prosecutors.

The new trial commenced earlier this month, marking another step in the Kremlin's relentless crackdown on dissent, which intensified after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Other Notable Events

On the same day as Orlov's sentencing, a court in Grozny, the capital of Chechnya, sentenced a man to 3 1/2 years in prison for publicly burning a Quran in front of a mosque. The Russian state news agency Tass reported that Nikita Zhuravel confessed to committing the act upon receiving payment from Ukrainian special services.

In September 2023, Chechnya's authoritarian leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video of his son apparently beating Zhuravel in detention. Kadyrov praised his son for defending his religion.

February 27th also marked the ninth anniversary of the assassination of Boris Nemtsov, a prominent Russian opposition figure. Nemtsov, a former deputy prime minister, was shot dead at the age of 55 while walking along a bridge near the Kremlin in 2015. His death dealt a significant blow to the political opposition, as did the recent death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison.

While an officer in the security forces of Kadyrov was sentenced to 20 years for firing the fatal shots that killed Nemtsov, four other individuals received sentences ranging from 11 to 19 years for their involvement in the crime.