Expert demonstrates lack of professionalism at court hearing in human rights defender Orlov’s case

When speaking in court in a case on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces, expert Natalia Kryukova failed to explain the base for her conclusions that Oleg Orlov was an anti-Russian human rights defender. The expert was also unable to substantiate the contradictions in the text of her conclusion.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on June 8, in Moscow, a court began considering a criminal case against Oleg Orlov, the co-chair of the Human Rights Protection Centre “Memorial”, who was accused of discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The human rights defender faces up to three years of imprisonment. Oleg Orlov and his public defender Dmitry Muratov pointed out that the persecution for a post contradicts the principle of freedom of expression enshrined in the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Witness Vadim Mironenko acted as the executive director of the public movement “Veterans of Russia” and stated that the Oleg Orlov’s article was unconstitutional.

Expert Natalia Kryukova could not explain why the list of references included the works that she did not use. At the same time, the list of references includes the “Star Wars” series. “This is in the context of what Oleg Orlov says about the ‘dark’ and ‘light’ side,” the expert stated.

It also followed from the expert’s phrases that Oleg Orlov supported the special military operation in Ukraine.

*On March 21, 2022, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow banned the activities in Russia of the Meta Company, owning the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, in connection with extremist activities.