Russian Human Rights Activist Oleg Orlov Sentenced to 2 1/2 Years in Prison

Russian human rights activist Oleg Orlov, co-chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning group Memorial, has been sentenced to 2½ years in prison for criticizing the war in Ukraine, with the prosecution claiming his article was motivated by hostility toward Russian values and the military. The verdict has drawn international concern and condemnation, with Memorial denouncing it as an attempt to silence the human rights movement in Russia. The sentencing comes amid an ongoing crackdown on dissent in Russia, as evidenced by another man being sentenced for burning a Quran and the anniversary of the killing of opposition figure Boris Nemtsov.