Statement by Human Rights Groups on the Unjust Verdict and Sentence in Politically Motivated Case Against Russian Human Rights Defender Oleg Orlov
February 27, 2024
We, 31 human rights organizations, condemn Moscow’s Golovinsky District Court’s sentencing today of Oleg Orlov, co-chair of Human Rights Defense Center Memorial, to 2 years and 6 months in prison on politically motivated charges of “repeatedly discrediting” Russia’s armed forces.
Orlov, 70, is a veteran human rights defender who has devoted his life to exposing rights abuses and seeking justice for victims. His “crime” was to protest the Kremlin’s war on Ukraine and the escalating political repression inside Russia. Orlov’s trial was a mockery of justice and an attack on the fundamental right to free expression. He and his legal team have said that they will appeal the verdict.
Russian authorities should quash Oleg Orlov’s conviction and release him immediately along with all those detained simply for exercising their basic human rights, including public criticism of government abuses. Key international actors should use their influence take all possible measures to obtain Orlov’s freedom and hold the Russian government accountable for its grave and persistent human rights violations.
List of Signatories
- Human Rights Watch
- Amnesty International
- Norwegian Helsinki Committee
- International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH)
- OVD-Info
- Front Line Defenders
- Public Verdict Foundation
- Civic Assistance Committee
- Human Rights Defence Center “Memorial”
- International Memorial Association
- Crew Against Torture
- Stichting Justice Initiative
- Board of Civil Society Forum
- Human Rights House Foundation
- World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT)
- The Netherlands Helsinki Committee
- Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Poland)
- Movement of Conscientious Objectors
- Freedom House
- Citizens’ Watch
- International Protection Centre
- Mass Media Defence Centre
- Andrei Sakharov Institute
- Freedom Files, Poland
- International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR)
- Center for Civil Liberties, Ukraine
- Anti-Discrimination Center Memorial (Belgium)
- Human Rights Center Viasna (Belarus)
- Belarussian Helsinki Committee
- Östgruppen
- Radio Sakharov
