27/02/2024 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 27 February, the EU High Representative Josep Borrell expressed the EU’s dismay at the sentencing of Oleg Orlov, a “prominent human rights defender” and co-chair of the renowned human rights organisation Memorial, to two and a half years in prison in a penal colony “on politically motivated charges”. He has repeatedly denounced the Russian invasion of Ukraine. “Orlov had committed no crime or offence; he has exercised his constitutional right to express his views. This sent goes against the Russian legislation and the Russian Constitution, and is clearly politically motivated”, stressed Mr Borrell in a press release. He called on the Russian authorities to abandon their “oppressive legislation” used to suppress civil society and independent voices. (CG)