Oleg Orlov fined for discrediting Russian army

In Moscow, a court sentenced Oleg Orlov, a member of the board of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) “Memorial”*, to a fine of 50,000 roubles, considering his picket with criticism of Vladimir Putin to be discrediting the Russian Armed Forces. The human rights defender pleaded not guilty.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on March 20, the police detained Oleg Orlov, a member of the board of the HRC “Memorial”*, on the square near the Bolshoi Theatre. In his hands, the human rights defender was holding a poster criticizing Vladimir Putin. A protocol on an administrative offense was drawn up against Oleg Orlov under the article on discrediting the Russian Armed Forces.

Today, the Tverskoi Court of Moscow has fined Oleg Orlov a member of the board of the HRC “Memorial”*, 50,000 roubles for a picket held on March 20, the HRC “Memorial”* reported on its Telegram channel “Polny PTs”. “For the picket held on March 20, Oleg Orlov, a member of the board of the HRC ‘Memorial’*, was fined 50,000 roubles under Article 20.3.3 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Russian Federation,” the HRC reports.

Oleg Orlov himself did not agree with the interpretation of his actions. “The policemen, who do not have any psychological or linguistic education, for some reason concluded that I was discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation,” commented Oleg Orlov as quoted by the HRC.

* The organization is included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) in the register of NCOs performing functions of a foreign agent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 30, 2022 at 04:12 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.