The new punishment comes amid a widening crackdown on pro-democracy activists in Russia and the death of the country's president. Most notably, Alexei Navalny, who died suddenly earlier this month in a prison colony in the Arctic. Navalny's spokeswoman said on Tuesday that no venue would agree to host the activist's funeral this week.
Navalny's lawyer, Vasily Dubkov, was briefly detained by police on Tuesday evening, Verstka news agency reported. The reasons for his arrest remain unclear.
Hundreds of people were arrested last week for placing flowers on memorials to Navalny that have spread across the country. On Tuesday morning, police arrested several Moscow residents days after they placed flowers at a memorial as they left their homes for work.
Orlov's sentencing is the latest example of Russian authorities issuing harsher sentences to those who appeal charges against them. Earlier this month, Boris Kagarlytsky, a prominent sociologist, was sentenced to five years in prison for criticizing the war in Ukraine – after a court initially ordered him to pay just a $6,500 fine.
In a rousing speech before Tuesday's sentencing, Orlov read from Franz Kafka's “The Trial” and said he had “nothing to regret or regret.”
“A word to you, your sovereignty, and the prosecution: Aren’t you afraid yourselves? Maybe you love our country too; Aren't you afraid to witness what he turns into?” Orlov told the judge. “Aren’t you afraid that not only you and your children, but also, God forbid, your grandchildren will have to live in this absurdity, in this bitter reality?”
Orlov recounted that when he wrote the article more than a year ago, his friends accused him of blowing things out of proportion. He added that the situation the country now faces has become “blatantly clear.”
He continued: “The state has become widespread everywhere.” “It has been just over four months since the end of my first trial, and in that time, many things have happened that show how quickly our country is sinking into darkness.”
Orlov also noted that his trial began on the day the world learned of Navalny's death, and described how “the killing of Alexei,” the suppression of freedom, the sentencing of regime critics, and the invasion of Ukraine were all “episodes in the war.” Same series.”
Navalny's wife, family and colleagues accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of ordering the state-sponsored killing of Navalny, his biggest rival and critic.
Kira Yarmysh, Navalny's spokeswoman, tweeted on Tuesday that even after Navalny's family finally reclaimed his body from authorities, no venue would host a funeral due to government pressure.
“Since yesterday we have been looking for a location where we can say goodbye to Alexei,” she wrote. “Some places say the place is crowded, some places refuse to mention Navalny’s name. In one place, we were told directly that funeral agencies are prohibited from working with us.”
An aide to Navalny said on Monday that he was killed in connection with prisoner exchange negotiations between Russia and Germany.
Navalny's death dealt a crushing blow to Russia's already demoralized and fractured opposition, most of which fled into exile after the invasion of Ukraine or were transferred to prisons across the country, generally over their criticism of the war or past activism.
After the sentencing, Orlov calmly offered his wrists to be handcuffed by waiting officers, picked up his packed bag and passport, and embraced friends and supporters. The attendees applauded him.
Alexandra Popova, a human rights activist and Orlov's colleague who attended the sentencing in Moscow, described the atmosphere inside the courtroom as poignant. She said that as soon as the ruling was issued, some cried.
“The sentence against Oleg is brutal… and it shows that the state does not spare anyone,” she said. “He's very stoic…but naturally his arrest causes a lot of concerns about how he's going to handle this prison because he's an elderly person, and that's very painful.”
Popova said Orlov's sentencing was particularly sensitive given that it coincided with the anniversary of the death of Boris Nemtsov, the opposition leader who was shot dead outside the Kremlin in 2015.
On Tuesday, dozens of people laid flowers on the bridge where Nemtsov was killed, including a number of foreign ambassadors.
