UN Special Rapporteur on Russia urges to stop criminal prosecution of Oleg Orlov*

The criminal prosecution of human rights defender Oleg Orlov* is politically motivated, states United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Russian Federation Mariana Katzarova. The UN Special Rapporteur has also called for the release of all political prisoners.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that Oleg Orlov*, the co-chair of the “Memorial” Centre for Defence of Human Rights, is accused in a criminal case on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. In his final speech, the human rights defender emphasized that the reason for his pacifist publication was not ideological hatred, but a protest against the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine and dissatisfaction with political repression.

The official website of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reports that Mariana Katzarova called on the Russian authorities to “immediately drop all charges against Oleg Orlov*, well-known for his tireless fight for human rights.” Mariana Katzarova has claimed that the accusation of discrediting the Russian Army “has no basis in international law and grossly violates the Russia’s international obligations to protect freedom of speech.”

The case against Oleg Orlov* has been called by the UN Special Rapporteur “an example of increasing repression against human rights defenders in Russia” and “an attempt to silence human rights defenders in Russia and those who voice any criticism of the special military operation in Ukraine.”

The UN Special Rapporteur has stated that the trial in the case against Oleg Orlov* was accompanied by violations of the right to a fair trial and that the human rights defender’s opportunity to prepare his defence was limited, as he had been given only six days to look through the case materials.

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