On the 27th, a court in the capital Moscow sentenced an executive of the Russian human rights organization Memorial, which won the Nobel Peace Prize last year, to two years and six months in prison on charges of destroying trust in the military. I told you.
Under the Putin administration, pressure has intensified.
The Russian human rights organization Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize a year ago in recognition of its track record of monitoring human rights violations since the Soviet era.
Oleg Orlov, one of Memorial's executives, has criticized Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, but last year the Russian authorities accused him of posting articles on social media that undermined trust in the military. Mr. Orlov was indicted.
In October last year, a Moscow court sentenced Orlov to a fine of 150,000 rubles, but the prosecutor's office appealed this and requested a new trial.
Mr. Orlov has consistently maintained his innocence, but on the 27th, a Moscow court sentenced him to two years and six months in prison, which is a heavier sentence than a fine.
After the verdict, the human rights group Memorial issued a statement saying, ``Orlov, who has opposed the invasion of Ukraine, was sent to prison by the authorities.This sentence is an attempt to silence human rights activities in Russia and criticism of the state.'' "It's a thing," he accused.
Ahead of the latest ruling, the Russian Ministry of Justice had designated Mr. Orlov as a "foreign agent," meaning a foreign spy, and under the Putin administration, there has been increased pressure on individuals and groups who advocate anti-war efforts. It's getting stronger.