Actions in support of human rights defender Oleg Orlov* held in Europe

On the eve of the court session on the case of Oleg Orlov*, a co-chairman of the "Memorial" Human Rights Defence Centre, three Italian cities, Milan, Rovato and Borgoricco, as well as Lisbon, Portugal, have hosted pickets demanding to stop persecuting Oleg Orlov*, accused of repeatedly discrediting the Russian Army.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that motives of hatred and enmity were added to the charges against Orlov* of discrediting the Russian Army. He has noted that the examination of his article, which became the basis for the new aggravating circumstances in his case, was conducted in one day, and the conclusions thereof are illogical.

As reported by the "Activatika" website, activists in Italy and Portugal came out with posters: "Opinion is not a crime" and "Freedom for political prisoners".

Let us recall 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. The prosecutor's office has demanded to replace the fine by three years of freedom deprivation.

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