The conviction of Mr Oleg Orlov, chairman of Human Rights Center Memorial, in the defamation lawsuit lodged by the President of the Republic of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, has been confirmed by the Moscow City Court on appeal. Human Rights Centre Memorial concentrates its activities on human rights violations in zones of armed conflicts in the Russian Federation, and on the protection of refugees and victims of discrimination and political persecution.

Further Information

On 21 January 2010, Moscow City Court heard the appeals lodged both by Oleg Orlov together with Human Rights Center Memorial and by the representative of the Chechen President, Ramzan Kadyrov, and ruled to confirm the previous conviction.

On 6 October 2009, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow had found Oleg Orlov guilty of libel in relation to the publication of a statement on 15 July 2009 in which Oleg Orlov indicated that he believed President Kadyrov, or his administration, was responsible for the murder of the head of Memorial's office in Grozny, Natalia Estemirova. Following Oleg Orlov's statement, President Ramzan Kadyrov lodged an administrative complaint of libel against him arguing that his statement damaged the "honour and dignity” of the President of Chechnya and asked for 10 million rubles (approximately 238,932 euro) in damages. The Tverskoy District Court of Moscow ordered Oleg Orlov to retract the statement and ordered Memorial to pay 50,000 rubles (about 1,194 euro) and Oleg Orlov to personally pay 20,000 rubles (about 450 euro) in damages.

Oleg Orlov told the Front Line observer who attended the trial on 21 January 2010 that he was intending to appeal the decision and bring the case to the European Court of Human Rights, if necessary. Oleg Orlov hopes that the recent ratification by the Russian Federation of the Protocol 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights will accelerate the examination procedure of Russian cases pending before the European Court of Human Rights. However, Oleg Orlov said that before bringing the case to the European Court, he would appeal the decision before the presidium of the Moscow City Court and the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation.

The criminal investigation concerning Oleg Orlov's statement was opened on 20 October 2009, but no charges have been brought against him so far.

Front Line believes that the judicial harassment of Oleg Orlov is directly related to his human rights work with Human Rights Centre Memorial in the Chechen Republic and to criticism of the policies of the Chechen President's administration. Front Line also believes that the statement made by Oleg Orlov following the assassination of Natalia Estemirova was an example of his right to exercise freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Furthermore, it is believed that his conviction may be an attempt to curtail his work and to intimidate other human rights defenders in the region. Front Line fears for the security of the members of Human Rights Centre Memorial and for all human rights defenders working in Chechnya.

Original Front Line Appeal on behalf of Oleg Orlov