14 December 2023, 23:46
Human rights defender Oleg Orlov accuses prosecutor’s office of “unfair play”
By having achieved the return of an Oleg Orlov’s case for reconsideration, the prosecutor’s office violated the principles of adversarial proceedings, claim human rights defender Oleg Orlov himself and his public defender Dmitry Muratov*. The defence will file an appeal to a court of cassation against the return of the Oleg Orlov’s case to the prosecutor’s office.
The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in Moscow, a court was considering an appeal against the verdict to Oleg Orlov, the co-chair of the “Memorial” Centre for Defence of Human Rights. A public prosecutor waived the claims on appeal. The court agreed with the public prosecutor and decided to cancel the verdict.
On October 11, the Golovinsky District Court of Moscow sentenced Oleg Orlov to a fine of 150,000 roubles, finding him guilty of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The prosecutor’s office challenged the above decision and requested the court to replace the human rights defender’s fine with three years of imprisonment.
Oleg Orlov suggests that the prosecutor’s office was playing unfairly by returning his case from court. The activist has also announced his intention to continue his human rights activities.
During the court hearing, the human rights defender requested the court acquit him and not to return the case to the prosecutor’s office.
“I do not regret that I opposed <the special military operation>. And I was hurt by the accusation of hatred of the Russian state. I am standing for the state. I love my country and want strong power, limited by law,” said Oleg Orlov, when delivering his final speech in court.
The sharp change in the position of the prosecutor’s office and the request to sentence Oleg Orlov to a real term of imprisonment for discrediting the Russian Armed Forces may be associated with the higher authorities dissatisfied with the public prosecutor’s actions at the trial.
*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.
This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on December 14, 2023 at 03:43 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.
Source: СK correspondent
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