Russian activist Orlov fails in lawsuit against his detention
Orlow was sentenced to two and a half years in prison at the end of February because he publicly criticized the Russian military intervention in Ukraine. In contrast to many other critics of the Kremlin, the co-chairman of the 2022 Russian human rights organization Memorial, which was awarded the Peace Nobel Prize, decided to stay in Russia "to continue the fight."
During the hearing on Thursday, Orlow, who appeared via video link, compared the Russian justice system to those in Nazi Germany. He quoted US prosecutor Telford Taylor from the Nuremberg Trials against leading representatives of the NS regime: "They have perverted and misused it, and in the end they have achieved the complete destruction of law and order."
"These words are remarkably suitable for describing the current Russian justice system," Orlow said during the hearing. Orlow is in the city of Syzran, which is about 900 kilometers south-east of Moscow, in prison.
- Oleg Orlow, the co-chairman of Memorial, a Russian human rights organization that was awarded the Peace Nobel Prize, is currently serving a two-and-a-half-year imprisonment in Russia, following his criticism of the Russian military deployment in Ukraine.
- Despite facing imprisonment, Orlow chose to stay in Russia, lamenting that many other activists had fled, expressing his commitment to continue the fight for human rights.
- Orlow's imprisonment came after he publicly criticized the Kremlin, echoing the words of US prosecutor Telford Taylor from the Nuremberg Trials, comparing the Russian justice system to those in Nazi Germany that had "perverted and misused" justice.
- During his trial, Orlow, appearing via video link, was fined an additional amount for his activism, further exacerbating his hardships.
- Despite the challenging circumstances, Orlow's activism continues to draw international attention, and some call for his nomination for the Peace Nobel Prize once again.
- The Russian military deployment in Ukraine and Orlow's imprisonment are issues of international concern, with some countries expressing their concern to the Kremlin and calling for an end to the suppression of political dissent.
