Oleg Orlov

A court hearing in relation to criminal charges of libel against human rights defender Mr Oleg Orlov, Chairman of Human Rights Centre Memorial, has been set for 13 September 2010. The hearing will be held at 11.00 a.m. at District Court No. 63 in Khamovniki district in Moscow. A preparatory hearing on the case took place on 30 August 2010. As Oleg Orlov was away at the time, the hearing was postponed until 13 September.

Further Information

The charges against Oleg Orlov – criminal case No. 310555 - were initiated in accordance with part 3 of Article 129 (libel) of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in October 2009, following comments which Oleg Orlov made in connection to the assassination of his colleague, Natalya Estemirova, a human rights defender who was abducted and murdered in July 2009. On 15 July 2009, Oleg Orlov made public statements regarding the alleged involvement of the President of the Chechen Republic, Ramazan Kadyrov, in the killing.

Oleg Orlov was previously subject to a civil defamation suit filed by Ramazan Kadyrov, and on 6 October 2009 was found guilty and fined. He subsequently lost an appeal against the verdict. A criminal investigation into accusations of libel commenced on 20 October 2009.

Front Line expresses its concern regarding the criminal case against Oleg Orlov, as it believes that these measures have been taken against him solely as a result of his human rights activities.

For further information, materials regarding the criminal case, in addition to Ramazan Kadyrov's civil case against Oleg Orlov, can be found on Human Rights Centre Memorial's website, in the “Court” Section: http://www.memo.ru/2009/09/10/sud.htm (in Russian); and http://www.memo.ru/2009/11/03/sudeng.html (in English).

Please see Front Line Urgent Appeal, Update of 21 January 2010 and Update of 8 July 2010 regarding Oleg Orlov.

The address of the District Court No. 63 is: 1905 year street, No. 4, Building 1. Municipal judge K.A. Morozova will preside over the hearing.