Russian Human Rights Leader Oleg Orlov Sentenced to Prison Amid Crackdown on Dissent

Orlov's conviction for discrediting the armed forces underscores the Kremlin's intensified repression of war critics and human rights activists.

Oleg Orlov, a prominent Russian human rights campaigner and co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning group Memorial, has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for discrediting the Russian armed forces.
The sentencing marks a significant escalation in the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent, especially against critics of Russia's war in Ukraine.
Orlov's trial and conviction have drawn international condemnation, with human rights organizations and Western diplomats decrying the proceedings as politically motivated.
In his closing statement, Orlov criticized the Russian state's descent into totalitarianism and fascism, and condemned the recent death in prison of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Memorial, the organization Orlov co-chairs, was banned in Russia in 2021 but continues to operate in exile, documenting human rights abuses and preserving the memory of victims of political repression.