Court denies request to ensure Oleg Orlov's* presence at trial on status of foreign agent

The defence has demanded the personal presence of Oleg Orlov* when the court considers his complaint about being recognized as a foreign agent, but the judge has denied this request. The trial has been postponed until April 25.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on February 2, 2024, the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) included Oleg Orlov*, a co-chairman of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"**, into the register of foreign agents, noting that he had opposed the actions of Russian troops in Ukraine and disseminated false information about the policies of Russian authorities.

The Zamoskvoretsky Court of Moscow was to consider Oleg Orlov's* complaint about his inclusion in the register of foreign agents. He was supposed to take part in the session via video link. About 40 people came to support Orlov, but only 15 were let into the courtroom, the "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence*** has informed.

Alexandra Baeva, Oleg Orlov's* representative, has stated that Oleg wants to be personally present in court, since his stay at the SIZO (pre-trial prison) should not limit his right to a fair trial. She has noted that taking part in the court session via video conferencing is not enough for Orlov*, since technical communication means often work poorly, and his hearing has deteriorated at the SIZO.

The 70-year-old Oleg Orlov* has asked for medical help due to received cold and loss of hearing, but was not examined by doctors at the SIZO due to his daily trips to the court. The doctor prescribed treatment for Orlov*, but the judge demanded that he continue travelling to the court in order to finish studying the case materials by April 5, his colleagues have reported.

*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.

***As reported on the website of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), the reason for including on March 1, 2024, the unregistered "Memorial" Centre for Human Rights Defence (CHRD) into the roster of foreign agents was the spread of "inaccurate information aimed at creating a negative image of the Russian Federation, as well as of the Russian Armed Forces."