Veteran Human Rights Advocate Oleg Orlov Freed in Major East-West Prisoner Swap; Warns Russia Is Regression to Stalinist Repression Under Vladimir Putin
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
5 minutes read. Updated 1:21AM GMT Sat, 10August, 2024
Oleg Orlov, a prominent human rights advocate who has been active since the 1980s, has expressed grave concerns about the current state of political repression in Russia following his recent release. Orlov, who once hoped the collapse of the Soviet Union would usher in an era of democratic reforms, finds himself disillusioned as Russia seemingly slides back toward Stalinist oppression.
Orlov, 71, was imprisoned earlier this year for his opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, sentenced to 2½ years for writing an anti-war article. His release on August 1st came as part of the largest East-West prisoner exchange since the Cold War. Following his release, Orlov was exiled, echoing the fate of Soviet dissidents from decades past.
In an interview with The Associated Press in Berlin, Orlov condemned the severe repression under Vladimir Putin’s regime. He highlighted the harsh penalties faced by individuals who dare to criticize the authorities—a stark contrast to the relative openness hoped for after the Soviet Union’s dissolution.
“We are sliding back into Stalinist times,” Orlov remarked, his exhaustion evident from his busy media schedule. He described his prison experience, including a period of isolation in Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison, where he was subjected to harsh conditions and deprived of legal representation. The prison officials’ abrupt change in his status from prisoner to free man, followed by his subsequent transfer to Germany, was marked by a poignant reunion with other freed dissidents, including artist Sasha Skochilenko and opposition politician Andrei Pivovarov.
Despite his release, Orlov remains deeply concerned about the ongoing repression in Russia. Memorial, the human rights organization he co-founded, estimates that over 760 political prisoners remain behind bars, while OVD-Info reports more than 1,300 individuals imprisoned on politically motivated charges. Many of these prisoners endure severe isolation and inadequate access to legal and medical aid.
Orlov, who described his own prison experience as relatively tolerable compared to others, stressed the importance of continued support for political prisoners. He advocates for maintaining international attention on their plight and providing support to their families.
As Orlov adjusts to life in exile, he remains committed to his work with Memorial. He believes that while advocacy from abroad is crucial, real change in Russia will only come with the end of Putin’s “repressive, terrorist regime.”
