Released activist Orlov wants to advocate for political prisoners in Russia
After his release in the largest prisoner exchange between Russia and the West since the Cold War, Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov plans to advocate for the release of more detainees. "For me, freedom above all means working for Memorial," the 71-year-old said in a video published by Memorial, addressing his supporters. He will particularly focus on advocating for the release of political prisoners.
In the exchange, Russia released 15 prisoners on Thursday, including several prominent Russian opposition figures. The release of a German national initially sentenced to death in Belarus and later pardoned was also secured. In return, eight Russian prisoners and two minors, the children of two of the released individuals, were flown to Russia.
Seven countries were involved in the exchange. The German government played a central role. According to the U.S. government, Scholz's agreement to the release of the so-called Tiergarten murderer Vadim Krasikov from German custody was crucial.
Among those released, alongside Orlov, were Kremlin critics Vladimir Kara-Mursa, Ilya Yashin, and Andrei Pivovarov, who were also brought to Germany. Like the other released opposition figures, Orlov said in an interview with the news portal Medusa that while he was happy to be free, he was also bitter about not being in Russia to continue his fight.
Orlov was sentenced to two and a half years in prison in late February for publicly criticizing Russia's military intervention in Ukraine. Unlike many other Kremlin critics, he chose to stay in Russia "to continue the fight."
The organization, which was banned in 2021, advocated for the investigation of political persecution and Stalinist terror in the Soviet Union, as well as the protection of human and civil rights in present-day Russia.
According to Memorial, there are 765 political prisoners in Russia. Thousands more are threatened or sanctioned for protesting against the Ukraine war or the Russian government.
The activist Oleg Orlov, fondly known for his work with Memorial, expressed his intent to continue advocating for the release of additional detainees following his own release. Despite his joy at being free, Orlov expressed bitterness about not being able to continue his fight in Russia.
