Russian activist Oleg Orlov demands the release of all political prisoners from exile

Russian opposition activist Oleg Orlov, one of the founders of the NGO Memorial and released in a recent exchange of dozens of prisoners, has stated from Germany that he will continue to work to defend civil rights in Russia, which he believes requires demanding the release of all political prisoners.

Orlov stated that the most conservative estimates put the number of people imprisoned in Russia for political reasons at at least 800, and he has emphasized the case of eight seriously ill prisoners. “When we discovered that they were not on the list, it was a disappointment,” he admitted in statements to the media.

The 71-year-old activist, who stressed that Vladimir Putin’s government will not be able to “destroy” Memorial’s legacy – Nobel Peace Prize in 2022 – has mentioned the difficulties that exile will entail for him and stated that he would prefer to be in Russia, but he would face persecution from the authorities again.

His work with Memorial

Memorial is a Russian human rights organization that was established in 1989 to document the political repression and human rights abuses that took place in the Soviet Union. The organization has been critical of the Russian government’s human rights record, and its work has been praised by international human rights organizations. In 2022, Memorial was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work.

Orlov was one of the founders of Memorial, and he served as its chairman from 1998 to 2009. He has been a vocal critic of the Russian government, and he has been arrested and detained on several occasions. In 2021, he was sentenced to two years of probation for organizing an unauthorized protest.

His exile

In April 2022, Orlov was released from prison as part of a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. He was then allowed to travel to Germany, where he has been living in exile. Orlov has said that he will continue to work to defend human rights in Russia, and he has called for the release of all political prisoners.

Orlov’s exile is a sign of the increasing repression of dissent in Russia. In recent years, the Russian government has cracked down on independent media, NGOs, and opposition politicians. Many activists have been forced to flee the country, and others have been imprisoned.

The future of human rights in Russia

The future of human rights in Russia is uncertain. The Russian government has shown a willingness to use violence and repression to suppress dissent, and it is unclear whether it will be willing to tolerate any form of political opposition. However, there are still many brave activists who are fighting for human rights in Russia, and they are determined to continue their work.