16.92°C Vancouver

Feb 27, 2024 4:32 PM - The Associated Press

A Russian court sentences the co-chair of a Nobel-winning rights group to 30 months in prison

Share On
a-russian-court-sentences-the-co-chair-of-a-nobel-winning-rights-group-to-30-months-in-prison
The prosecution on Monday demanded that he be sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison.(Photo: The Canadian Press)

A Moscow court on Tuesday sentenced a veteran human rights advocate who spoke out against the war in Ukraine to two years and six months in prison. He was taken directly into custody from the courtroom.

Oleg Orlov, 70, was convicted of “repeatedly discrediting” the Russian army in an article he wrote denouncing the invasion of Ukraine. He has rejected the case against him as politically motivated.

The prosecution on Monday demanded that he be sentenced to two years and 11 months in prison.

The verdict concluded a retrial after Orlov was earlier ordered to pay a fine. Underscoring how little tolerance President Vladimir Putin’s government has for criticism of its invasion of Ukraine, the prosecution appealed the fine, seeking a harsher punishment.

The prosecution claimed that Orlov, co-chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize, winning human rights group Memorial, published the article motivated by hostility “against traditional Russian spiritual, moral and patriotic values” and hatred of the Russian military, independent Russian news outlet Mediazona said on Tuesday.

Latest news

federal-deficit-reaches-25-5b-in-first-11-months-of-2025-26-fiscal-year
CanadaApr 24, 2026

Federal deficit reaches $25.5B in first 11 months of 2025–26 fiscal year

The federal government recorded a budgetary deficit of $25.5 billion for the April to February period of its 2025–26 fiscal year, according to the latest monthly fiscal monitor from the Department of Finance. The result compares with a deficit of $19.3 billion reported during the same 11-month period in 2024–25, indicating a year-over-year increase in the shortfall. According to the Finance Department report, total revenues reached $453.2 billion, up 0.8 per cent from $449.8 billion a year earlier. Program expenses, excluding net actuarial losses, rose to $424.9 billion, a 2.1 per cent inc
AlbertaApr 24, 2026

Flood alert issued for downtown Peace River as Heart River levels rise

The Town of Peace River has issued a flood alert for areas including its downtown, warning residents to be ready to leave on short notice due to rising water levels on the Heart River. According to a municipal notice, the alert covers the area between the Highway 2 bridge and 104 Avenue in the town’s south end. Officials say the alert is precautionary but reflects the potential for flooding if river conditions worsen. Residents in the affected zone are being advised to prepare for a possible evacuation by fuelling vehicles and gathering essential items, including identification, medications
rcmp-investigate-suspicious-death-at-peace-river-gas-station
AlbertaApr 24, 2026

RCMP investigate suspicious death at Peace River gas station

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police say a man is dead after an incident at a gas station in northern Alberta that investigators are treating as suspicious. According to an RCMP news release, officers were called to a Petro-Canada location in Peace River on Thursday morning, where they found a man deceased near the fuel pumps. Police have not released the victim’s identity. Investigators say surveillance video from the scene shows a suspect entering the driver’s seat of a red Dodge Caravan taxi and striking the victim with the vehicle. The circumstances leading up to the incident have not bee
IndiaApr 24, 2026

Raghav Chadha, Sandeep Pathak, Ashok Mittal join BJP after quitting AAP

Rajya Sabha MPs Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal and Sandeep Pathak, who announced their resignations from AAP, joined the BJP in the presence of party chief Nitin Nabin in Delhi on Friday. The remaining four MPs – former cricketer Harbhajan Singh, Swati Maliwal, Rajinder Gupta and Vikram Sahney will join the BJP later. Chadha, Mittal and Pathak, received bouquets from Nabin and greeted other BJP leaders present at the party office.
canadian-astronaut-joshua-kutryk-assigned-to-first-space-mission-aboard-spacex-crew-13
CanadaApr 24, 2026

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk assigned to first space mission aboard SpaceX Crew-13

Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk is scheduled to travel to the International Space Station later this year as part of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-13 mission, according to a Canadian Space Agency news release. The Canadian Space Agency says the flight will mark Kutryk’s first mission to space. He is expected to launch no earlier than mid-September 2026 from Florida. Kutryk will be joined by NASA astronauts Jessica Watkins and Luke Delaney, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Sergey Teteryatnikov. NASA says the flight represents the 13th crew rotation carried out by SpaceX under its Commercial Crew Progra

Related News