The state prosecution asked to sentence Memorial co-chairman Orlov to a fine of 250 thousand rubles

State prosecutor Svetlana Kildisheva in the case of repeated discrediting of the army against the co-chairman of the Center for the Protection of Human Rights (CDHR) Memorial Oleg Orlov asked to find him guilty and impose a fine of 250 thousand rubles, Interfax reports.

During the hearing in the Golovinsky District Court of Moscow, the prosecutor also asked to send Oleg Orlov for a psychiatric examination. Svetlana Kildisheva stated in court that when analyzing “Orlov’s behavior” during this trial and when considering other criminal cases brought against him, he was revealed to have “a heightened sense of justice, a complete lack of instinct of self-preservation, constant posturing in front of citizens” (quote from “Mediazone” – the publication is recognized as a foreign agent).

“Orlov came out for the first time in 1980 with a poster against the war in Afghanistan… In those days, all the time people who carried out human rights activities were sent to psychiatric hospitals. Unfortunately, the investigation does not have this data, but after analyzing the behavior…”, Ms. Kildisheva said in court. At the same time, in the Telegram channel “Memorial” it is said that Oleg Orlov did not go to protests with posters at that time.

At the end of her speech, Ms. Kildisheva made a motion to send Oleg Orlov for a psychiatric examination. However, the court refused the prosecutor’s request and the hearing continued.

Co-chairman of the Memorial Center for Human Rights Oleg Orlov is accused of “repeated discrediting” of the army for an anti-war article. He is defended by lawyer Katerina Tertukhina and chief editor of Novaya Gazeta, Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov.

Read more about the case in the material “May the Force prevail in judgment”“

Anastasia Larina