Rights defender Oleg Orlov accused of violating rules of picketing

Oleg Orlov, a human rights defender, who went out on April 11 with a poster onto Red Square in Moscow, was accused by law enforcers of violating the rules of picketing.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on March 20, law enforcers detained Oleg Orlov, a board member of the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial"*, in the square near the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, when he was holding a poster criticizing Vladimir Putin. The court sentenced him to a fine of 50,000 roubles, finding him guilty of discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Oleg Orlov, who was detained on April 11 with a poster, was set free from the "Kitai-Gorod" OVD (Interior Division), the HRC "Memorial"* has reported on its Telegram channel "Polny PTs". "The protocol against him was drawn up under Article 20.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses (violation of the established rules for organizing or holding a meeting, rally, demonstration, procession or picket)," the publication says.

Oleg Orlov was detained in Red Square with a poster stating his desire to know the truth and calling not be silent. "This is his fourth detention in recent times; Mikhail Biryukov, an advocate, is now with Orlov," the HRC "Memorial"* has written in another post.

*The organization has been put by the Russia's Ministry of Justice on the register of non-commercial organizations performing the functions of a foreign agent.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on April 10, 2022 at 04:44 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.