The Russian human rights group Memorialsaid Monday that its co-founder Oleg Orlov was transferred to a detention center in southwestern Russia before his prison sentence was set to enter into force.A Moscow court in February found Orlov, 71, guilty of discrediting the Russian army after he openly criticized the invasion of Ukraine, sentencing him to two-and-a-half years in a medium-security prison.The activist has appealed the verdict against him.
Under Russian law, a prison sentence does not enter into force until a higher court issues a ruling on an appeal.Memorial said in a statement that authorities on Thursday night moved Orlov from Moscow to a detention center in the southwestern city of Samara without notifying his lawyer or wife.We have appealed the verdict...
therefore, it will have entered into legal force only after an appellate court, which could theoretically commute the sentence or acquit, the activists lawyer Katerina Tertukhina said.An unnamed lawyer at Memorial said Russian prison authorities sometimes justify the premature transfer of prisoners as a way to help ease overcrowded detention centers.According to the lawyer, the judge who sentenced Orlov granted visitation rights to his wife Tatiana on Thursday.This is a terrible humiliation...
Its hard to interpret this as anything other than revenge or a desire to spite Orlov, the Memorial lawyer said.Tatiana Orlova requested that the authorities not transfer her husband until his sentence enters force due to his poor health.Memorial described the transfer, which is standard practice for many prisoners in Russia, as a torturous process in cramped spaces.[Orlov] is very tired.
He still doesnt know where and on what grounds hes being transferred.
Its possible that Samara is not the final destination, Memorial wrote.Russias Justice Ministry designated Orlov a foreign agent 11 days ahead of his sentencing.