Date of trial of rights defender Oleg Orlov* announced

The first court hearing of the case of repeated discrediting the Russian Army initiated against Oleg Orlov*, a co-chair of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"**, is scheduled for February 16 at the Golovinsky District Court of Moscow.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the investigator had announced the completion of the re-investigation in the Orlov's* case, in which motives of hatred and enmity were added to the charge of discrediting the Russian Army. Oleg Orlov* has noted that the examination of his imputed article, which made the basis for aggravating circumstances, had taken just one day, while the conclusions contained therein are illogical.

"Such a rush suggests that an order was issued from above to transfer the case to court as soon as possible, and, apparently, to pass a verdict same promptly," Oleg Orlov* believes.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on October 11, 2023, the Golovinsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Orlov* to a fine of 150,000 roubles, finding him guilty of discrediting the Russian Army. Then, the prosecutor's office challenged the court's ruling, demanding to replace the fine with three years of freedom deprivation.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.

**On December 29, 2021, by the decision of the Moscow City Court, the Russian legal entities of the "International Memorial" and the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" were liquidated. Activists of the organizations have reported that both organizations will continue their work without forming legal entities.