[1/3] Dmitry Muratov, editor of the now-banned independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta, stands in a courtroom before a hearing of the case of Russian veteran human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov, accused of discrediting Russia's armed forces, in Moscow, Russia October 11, 2023.
Orlov, 70, was defending himself in a case based on a November 2022 article in which he wrote that Russia under President Vladimir Putin had descended into fascism.
"Where is it defined that our commander-in-chief (Putin) always rightly understands not only the interests of Russia, but the interests of its citizens?"
Orlov asked in his closing speech at a trial which began in June.
"And if the ideas of a part of Russia's citizens about their own interests don't match those of the commander-in-chief, don't they have the right to talk about this?"
Persons:
Dmitry Muratov, Oleg Orlov, Russia's, Evgenia, Orlov, acquit, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Vladimir Kara, Murza, Alexei Navalny, Gareth Jones
Organizations:
Novaya Gazeta, REUTERS, Memorial, Thomson
Locations:
Moscow, Russia, Ukraine