Human rights defender Oleg Orlov accuses prosecutor’s office of “unfair play”

By having achieved the return of an Oleg Orlov’s case for reconsideration, the prosecutor’s office violated the principles of adversarial proceedings, claim human rights defender Oleg Orlov himself and his public defender Dmitry Muratov*. The defence will file an appeal to a court of cassation against the return of the Oleg Orlov’s case to the prosecutor’s office.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that in Moscow, a court was considering an appeal against the verdict to Oleg Orlov, the co-chair of the “Memorial” Centre for Defence of Human Rights. A public prosecutor waived the claims on appeal. The court agreed with the public prosecutor and decided to cancel the verdict.

Oleg Orlov suggests that the prosecutor’s office was playing unfairly by returning his case from court. The activist has also announced his intention to continue his human rights activities.

During the court hearing, the human rights defender requested the court acquit him and not to return the case to the prosecutor’s office.

“I do not regret that I opposed <the special military operation>. And I was hurt by the accusation of hatred of the Russian state. I am standing for the state. I love my country and want strong power, limited by law,” said Oleg Orlov, when delivering his final speech in court.

*Included by the Russian Ministry of Justice (MoJ) into the register of foreign agents.