Washington, Feb. 27 -- Responding to the news that Oleg Orlov, a prominent human rights defender, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison following an appeal hearing against his earlier conviction and fine, Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International's Russia Director, said: Responding to the news that Oleg Orlov, a prominent human rights defender, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison following an appeal hearing against his earlier conviction and fine, Natalia Zviagina, Amnesty International's Russia Director, said:

"Oleg Orlov, co-chair of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization Memorial, has been convicted under the newly instituted 'crime' of 'repeatedly discrediting' the Russian Armed Forces and se...