Prisoner exchange brings freedom to Russian human rights defender

Russian human rights defender Oleg Orlov was one of Putin's prisoners who gained freedom as a result of an exchange conducted between Russia and Western countries. The dissident stated that he "did not ask Vladimir Putin for a pardon."

In an interview with the independent portal Meduza, 71-year-old Orlov stated that he does not consider himself guilty. He would not ask the president for a pardon, as he was imprisoned for exercising his legal rights concerning freedom of speech.

Orlov was sentenced on February 27 to 2 years and 6 months in prison. The criminal case against him was initiated in connection with the publication of a social media article in which the activist criticized Russian aggression in Ukraine.

Orlov was one of the founders and co-chairs of the respected non-governmental organization Memorial Association. Although outlawed by authorities, Memorial focused on human rights defence and investigating Stalinist crimes. In 2022, Memorial was honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Meduza portal reports that after Thursday's exchange between Russia and Western countries, it turned out that Russian political prisoners were offered the opportunity to ask Putin for a pardon. Opposition politicians Vladimir Kara-Murza and Ilya Yashin refused to write such a document.

In total - according to the Kremlin - Putin's decree pardoned 13 prisoners, including two Americans - Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. Seven countries were involved in the exchange; it involved 26 prisoners.