Rights expert deplores harassment of anti-war campaigner, pressure on judges in Russia

Anjali Sharma

GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 27th Feb. Top human  rights expert on Russia Mariana Katzarova on Monday condemned efforts by the Russian judiciary to silence anti-war dissident Orleg Orlov.

According to reports, prosecutors sought a two-year 11-month prison sentence for Mr. Orlov after he “repeatedly discredited” Russian armed forces involved in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Mariana Katzarova, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Russia, insisted that the charges against him had no basis in international law.

Ms. Katzarova said that the case flouted Russia’s obligations to create a safe environment for activists.

Mr. Orlov is co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize winning human rights centre Memorial.

In October last year, a court in Moscow fined him 150,000 roubles – or around $1,600 – after he staged several protests against Russia’s ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.