Yes, Alexei Navalny has been found. But if Vladimir Putin thinks that’s the end of it, he couldn’t be more wrong. Because Navalny’s supporters need assurances that he is alive and well. And we need to bring him — and all the other political prisoners — back home. So today begins my series of daily reminders that they’re still being held hostage, and that they must not be forgotten.
Alexei Navalny, Russian: HOSTAGE
My words, by themselves, may not carry much weight; but perhaps they’ll inspire others to join in and make a bigger noise.
Evan Gershkovich, American: HOSTAGE
These people do not belong in Russian prisons.
Paul Whelan, American/British/Irish/Canadian: HOSTAGE
They are innocent, by all normal legal and humane standards.
Vladimir Kara-Murza, Dual Russian-British: HOSTAGE
They need — and deserve — our help and support.
Alsu Kurmasheva, Dual Russian-American: HOSTAGE
These are just a few; there are estimated to be hundreds, both Russians and foreigners, being held for nothing more than openly expressing their opposition to the Putin regime and/or to the invasion of Ukraine. WE MUST NEVER FORGET ABOUT THEM!
President Biden, are you listening? Secretary Blinken, do you hear me? Human rights leaders from the UN, NATO, the EU, I’m speaking to you too. Bill Browder, where are you? I know all of you continue to work behind the scenes. Please . . . don’t ever let up.
No, I’m not sure what it represents either. In fact, its history is rather hazy, with several possibilities being proffered as to its origin. But they all seem to have something to do with the giving of gifts to the poor in olden days, and it’s very popular in the United Kingdom, so it sounds altogether like a pretty good thing. Let’s just go with that.
Of course, it’s also the day after Christmas — something with which we are all too familiar. So maybe Boxing Day’s more contemporary connotation could have to do with all those empty boxes we now have to dispose of.
After Santa Has Come and Gone
Yup, that sounds about right. Lots of boxes to recycle, and a half-eaten roast turkey, ham, or — in our house — prime rib to finish off. We’ve had enough of hearing “White Christmas” and “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” and we’ve watched Jimmy Stewart being saved by the whole town from financial ruin for the 100th time. And since most of us have either taken or been given another day off from work, what should we do with these leisure hours?
Well, for starters, we could clean up that mess of wrapping paper and ribbon. But after that?
The toys — for both kids and grown-ups — have already been wrestled out of their packaging, assembled, charged or given batteries, and played with. And the jewelry has most certainly been ooh-ed and aah-ed over. But there are probably clothes to try on (and return for a smaller size or less-bilious color — when will your mother-in-law learn?), kitchen appliances to find room for, and gift cards to spend. And, most likely, yet another warm, cuddly throw blanket to snuggle up with on those cold January and February nights, that turns out to be something you can’t have enough of because the dogs love them too and they’re constantly in the laundry pile.
Finally, as the day wears down and nighttime approaches, we drag out the carcass of that turkey (or ham, or roast beef) and start making sandwiches for a light dinner because after yesterday we’ll never eat another big meal . . . at least until New Year’s. Then, plunking ourselves down in front of the new giant TV (this year’s big gift to the family, from the family), we declare how relieved we are that we don’t have to do it again for another twelve months.
*. *. *
But before we can completely relax, there are the plans to be made for the New Year’s Eve party, and shopping for that perfect outfit because none of the clothes in our closet fit after all of the fourth-quarter Bacchanalian gorging we’ve taken part in: the Halloween candy, the Thanksgiving feast, and the half dozen Christmas parties. And those gift cards will come in handy for the champagne and hors d’oeuvres and party decorations we have to order. So it looks like another busy week ahead . . .
Happy post-Christmas week, one and all! And looking forward to sliding right into the next celebration.
On only the second day of what was intended to be my countdown to the actual discovery of Alexei Navalny’s location, his whereabouts have been revealed by Russian authorities. And there is good news, and . . . as usual from that source . . . bad news.
The very good news is that he is alive. Having feared the worst for the past 18 days, his family, friends, and supporters all over the world are now breathing a sigh of relief — but a tentative one.
Because the bad news — the very bad news — is that he is now being held in Russian penal colony IK-3, located 40 miles above the Arctic Circle in the settlement of Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District, some 2,000 miles north/northeast of Moscow. Popularly referred to as “Polar Wolf” due to its harsh conditions, both natural and man-made, it appears to be as isolated a spot as the authorities could find for Putin’s principal political opponent. If you really want to shut someone up . . . where better than a Siberian former GULAG camp?
“Polar Wolf” – The Worst of the Worst
Understandably, I haven’t been able to find any photographs of “Polar Wolf,” but here is an aerial view of IK-2, presumably a similar camp, but located in the Vladimir region, just a couple of hours east of Moscow and thus much more amenable to sustaining life. Now try to picture it — probably older and more dilapidated — buried in snow, surrounded by hundreds of miles of . . . nothing. And that’s how I envision IK-3.
Penal Colony IK-2
Navalny’s new “home” was once an outpost of the notorious GULAG system of Stalin’s reign, and is considered a “special regime” — the harshest still maintained in Putin’s time. Ivan Zhdanov, director of Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation, has described it as “one of the northernmost and most remote colonies. The conditions there are harsh, with a special regime in the permafrost zone. It is very difficult to get there, and there are no letter delivery systems.” [Katharina Krebs and Christian Edwards, CNN, Dec. 25, 2023.]
Navalny’s team warn that “he had been in poor health before his disappearance after being ‘deprived of food’ and ‘kept in a punishment cell without ventilation.’” [CNN, Dec. 25, 2023.] But apparently those abysmal conditions weren’t sufficient to kill him, so the Kremlin had to search for worse. And in Russia, there’s always something worse.
Navalny Interview
*. *. *
In 2020, Navalny survived an attempt on his life when he was poisoned with Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent not available to the general public. He was treated and his life saved in Germany, where the substance was identified. Upon returning to Moscow in January of 2021, he was immediately arrested and imprisoned. Even before then, in December of 2020 — while denying the Russian government’s involvement in Navalny’s poisoning — Vladimir Putin had said that, “if the Russian security services had wanted to kill Navalny, they ‘would have finished’ the job.” [CNN, Dec. 25, 2023.] Nice.
Considering what they’ve continued to do to him since then, it seems that “finishing the job” is precisely what they are now aiming for . . . but without actually putting a bullet in the back of his head. After all, that would rob them of deniability or justification.
Perhaps I should now begin a countdown to Alexei Navalny’s release from prison. But given the Kremlin’s refusal even to consider any vaguely humane action in connection with any of its numerous political prisoners, that countdown could go on for a very, very, very long time. I only hope to see a happy ending to Navalny’s story — and the others — in my own lifetime.
It’s another writing-free day for me. We’ll be up early, still in our pajamas, opening gifts and trying to keep the fur babies from getting into everything. Then breakfast, maybe a little nap and one or two Christmas movies before the big holiday dinner. Same old traditions every year . . . and I wouldn’t change them for anything.
I hope your Christmas is full of family and friends and traditions as well, whatever those traditions may be. And wherever in the world you are today, I wish you peace and prosperity, health and happiness . . . now and in the coming year.
At the risk of being repetitious, this is the first of what will be our daily count on this site until the question is answered. Navalny hasn’t been seen by his attorneys since December 6th; he has now been missing for 18 days. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said again on Saturday: “We are deeply concerned about the whereabouts of Alexei Navalny, who has now been missing in Russia’s prison system for nearly three weeks. We once more call for his immediate release and an end to the continued repression of independent voices in Russia.” Thank you, Secretary Blinken, for keeping up the pressure. And please, let us also not forget Paul Whelan, Vladimir Kara-Murza, and the other political prisoners currently in captivity in Russia.
That’s right, kiddies . . . it’s that time again. Santa’s packing up his sleigh, the reindeer have had a nice long nap and a good dinner before the big night, and the elves are making all the last-minute safety checks. So be sure you put out the milk and cookies, get to bed early, and have sweet dreams of sleigh bells and sugarplums. I’m taking the night off from my writing so I can do the same.
It’s probably already too late, but I came across a list the other day of suggested last-minute gifts for the incurable procrastinator to buy — “The 56 best Amazon gifts that will get there before it’s too late.” Some of them were excellent ideas, others a bit on the pricey side, and some just plain puzzling. So in case you’re hoping to avoid that suicidal last-minute run to the mall, let me throw just a few of Amazon’s ideas your way.
Is this how you really want to spend the day?
Amazon Kindle Scribe. For those who feel compelled to scribble in the margins of books but know they shouldn’t, just $270 will allow them to do all the notating their little hearts desire. Personally, I still love the feel of a real book, hard cover and all — and especially a beautiful leather-bound volume with its new-luxury-car scent. I’ll keep my books — $270 will buy a lot of 3M “stickies” for my notations, thanks.
Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Electric Gooseneck Kettle. No, I haven’t the faintest idea where that name came from, but I can tell you that it has nothing whatsoever to do with a test of your heart’s function. It’s a very attractive, white, electric kettle that is “calibrated for precise temperature control and designed with a spout that makes it perfect for pour-over fans. You can also schedule boils and adjust how long it’ll warm your water after boiling via app, for ultimate control.” That perfect cuppa will cost just $195 at Amazon, and yes . . . there’s an app for that.
Kona Grill Brush. This one’s a lot less pricey — only $21 on sale now at Amazon — and looks very nice for the grill-master in your family. But it’s many months to grilling season, unless they live way down south, so maybe save that one for a summer occasion.
Bedsure Satin Pillowcases. These are perfect for that Secret Santa gift at the office that has to cost $25 or less — they’re just $10 apiece. But I tried satin pillowcases once because they’re supposed to eliminate “pillow face” and not mess up your hair so much. I never did find out whether that was true, because my head kept sliding off the damned pillow until my feet were hanging off the far end of the bed, I got practically no sleep, and wound up tossing them. So, buyer beware.
The Ultimate Game for Couples. Just what you think it would be, this one features “200 unique questions and cheeky challenges designed to bring you and your partner closer together. Play against each other or as a pair for some friendly competition against other couples.” At $25, it might be worth a try; but I wouldn’t recommend it for that office Secret Santa gift. Not unless you want to be accused of sexual harassment, that is.
Fun, fun, fun!
Oxo Good Grips 3-in-1 Avocado Slicer.“Splits, pits and slices,” and it’s dishwasher-safe. Only $12 at Amazon, but keep in mind that not everyone loves avocados. I do, though, so feel free . . .
Maps International Scratch the World Travel Map. I got really excited about this $29 beauty, until I read that it’s designed to showcase the journeys you’ve already taken, and possibly inspire you to start planning more trips for the future. What I had hoped for was a map that would allow you to scratch off — and thereby actually, magically eliminate — the world’s most notorious trouble-making locations. (Okay, so I have a dark side. Who doesn’t?)
Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths. Honestly, now — if someone gave you dishcloths for Christmas, at any price, and no matter how luxurious, would you actually be able to give that Academy Award-winning performance and appear truly excited? Yeah, sure you would!
Thank you so much, Santa!
LifeStraw Peak Series Personal Water Filter. This one shows the user lying on her stomach, sucking water from an algae-green stream through this tube-shaped filter. I suppose if you have a friend or relative living near, say, the Ganges River . . . Otherwise, save your $20, or buy it and keep it for the Apocalypse when you’ll really need it.
Starface Hydro-Stars Hydrocolloid Pimple Patches. Personally, that name is enough to turn me away. But at only $15 from Amazon, this might be the perfect stocking gift for that self-conscious teenager suffering from acne. They’re little yellow stars that adhere to the skin and cover up the pimples. And these are supposed to be less conspicuous? Really??
And finally . . .
Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Instant Camera. For $77, you can have an “adorable Instax Mini 11 from Fujifilm [that] features an updated automatic exposure function, plus a selfie mode. Gift it alongside some instant film [apparently not included] to capture all your favorite memories.” Wait . . . isn’t that why we all have smart phones?
Back to the Future?
*. *. *
Whew! I’m exhausted from all the shopping . . . and that’s only a small percentage of the list. There are other items — watches, speakers, binoculars, etc. — but those actually make sense . . . something I try to avoid at all costs.
So, happy last-minute shopping, and happy holidays to all.
It was done. I had chosen my own way, and that path had led me to places I never dreamt I would be. Now that it was over, there were decisions to be made, a new course to be plotted. And I was totally unprepared.
I had always known, of course, that once Yuri Shvets’ book was published, that part of my life would be behind me. What I hadn’t foreseen was the resultant unraveling of my long relationship with Russia: my business, my travels, and — most painful of all — my Russian friendships.
The KGB had kicked me to the curb; the FBI no longer needed my help; and my friends in Moscow were afraid to talk to me. My business plan was defunct, and my bank account was in desperate need of an infusion of cash. It was as though it had all been a long, weird dream, and I had awakened still groggy and not quite sure of what was real and what wasn’t.
So what do you do when you reach the dead end of a road? As I see it, you have two choices: you can fall apart, or you can look for a new road. I momentarily considered the first option; but then I gave myself a good lecture, pulled myself together, updated my resume, and went searching for a job. It wasn’t that difficult in Washington in those days; we used to say D.C. was recession-proof. In a matter of days I found my place — a good one — and I stayed for 21 years.
The law firm was Foley & Lardner LLP; I was assistant to one of the firm’s top corporate partners, Steve Chameides, whose extensive background included work for Russian and Ukrainian shipping and cruise lines. I was hired in part for my Russian language skills and knowledge of the country, so there was still some attachment. On the downside, there was no opportunity for travel, and I was no longer my own boss; but the work was interesting, the people were great, the location on the Potomac Riverfront in D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood was ideal, and the pay was good. Was it exciting? For the most part, no. But it had its moments . . .
Foley & Lardner Offices, Washington, D.C.
I had only been with the firm for a couple of weeks, and was still finding my solid footing, when Steve was asked by another partner to join a meeting with some potential new clients, one of whom was from Russia. At one point, Steve rang and asked me if I could get someone from our copy center to pick up some documents to be duplicated right away. Rather than waste time delegating, I decided it would be quicker to take care of it myself and went directly to the nearby conference room. Looking only at Steve, I took the documents, left the room, and headed for the copy center. On the way, I happened to glance down at the top page of the sheaf of papers in my hand, and saw a familiar name: the name of Valentin Aksilenko’s brother-in-law from Riga, Latvia, who had been the conduit for the exchange of messages between myself and Aksilenko for a while in 1993.
“Holy Shit!”
I stopped walking and began leafing through the papers. And there was the other name I was looking for: Valentin Aksilenko himself. By one of the most bizarre of coincidences, he and his brother-in-law were partnering with a former client of Steve’s, an American man, in some sort of commercial transaction. Aksilenko had to have been in that room! Of all the law firms, in all the cities, in all the world, he walks into mine . . . (Oh, sorry — couldn’t resist channeling Casablanca.)
So now what should I do? First I took the papers to be copied, and instead of leaving them for someone else to bring back to Steve, I decided to wait for the copies and return them to the conference room myself. I just had to know. And when I walked back into that room, there was Aksilenko — seated across the table, facing me as I entered, and looking as though he wanted to slide under the table and disappear. His face was flushed, and he clearly did not know what to expect. Was this too much of a coincidence to actually be one? Was I going to say something? He was in as great a state of disbelief as I was.
But I had had time to compose myself. I handed the documents back to Steve and left the room as I had entered: without a word — but not before looking directly at Aksilenko to let him know I had seen him. I went back to my office, sat down, and waited for the shaking to stop — it seemed I wasn’t quite as composed as I’d thought. And then I called Eric at the FBI. But he was strangely unconcerned, and simply asked me to keep him advised of the outcome of the meeting. I was clearly an outsider now, and this encounter was no more than a little glitch to him. But to me, it was a disturbing indication of how small a world this really is. What’s that old saying?
Believe it!
Later, when the meeting broke up, I did what I had to do: I told Steve the story of my history with Aksilenko, and assured him that I would recuse myself from all work on any projects the firm might undertake for him and his colleagues in order to avoid even an appearance of any conflict of interest. As it turned out, though, that wasn’t necessary; it had already been decided that their proposal was not of interest to the firm and they were not going to be taken on as clients. But Steve was fascinated by my story, and we developed a great working relationship over the next two decades, and a friendship that continues to this day.
*. *. *
That was early in 1995. I have not seen, spoken to, heard from, or in any way communicated with either Valentin Aksilenko or Yuri Shvets in the ensuing 28 years. But they have never been far from my mind, and a little over two years ago — by then in retirement, with plenty of time on my hands — I decided to give voice to my memories. I began writing: not this blog, but a book. I have a nearly completed draft manuscript and a book proposal now, and I’m on a search for a publisher or literary agent. My magnum opus may never see the light of day, but writing it has been truly healing. If nothing else, it will be a legacy for my children.
And from that book was born this blog. It’s been a great way of sharing parts of my story with friends and others around the world who may be interested. And I’ve found writing a blog to be much more relaxing than writing a book: no in-depth research, no pressure, no need for grammatical perfection. No money either, but that’s beside the point.
As for all of that research, I had to do a lot of reading before I could even begin writing. And in the course of that reading, my name popped up in some unexpected places, the most fascinating being a book titled “One Nation Under Blackmail – Vol. 2,” by one Whitney Webb. It is largely about the late (and not so great) Jeffrey Epstein. In Chapter 20, the author writes about Epstein’s connection with the Edge Group, “an exclusive organization of intellectuals . . . created by John Brockman.” Yes, the same literary agent John Brockman who sold Shvets’ book to Simon & Schuster all those years ago.
Ms. Webb goes on to write more about Brockman, including his involvement with Shvets and Aksilenko in 1993-94 . . . which is where my name shows up, mostly in quotes from that old New York Times article. Nothing negative about me, but who would ever have thought I’d be mentioned, even marginally, in a book about a notorious, convicted, and now dead sex trafficker like Jeffrey Epstein? My name is even included in the Index! My grandmother would have been horrified — she used to preach that you’re judged by the company you keep. She was right, of course; but at my age, I figure any publicity is good publicity and can only enhance what’s left of my reputation. So, all in all, I’m fine with it.
*. *. *
And there we are (pictured above) at the beginning: Valentin Aksilenko, far left; Yuri Shvets, second from right; John Brockman; his wife and business partner Katinka Matson, far right; their son Max; and — in the middle of things as usual — yours truly, with the red hair and an inexplicably odd facial expression. The red hair was an accident of birth; I can’t explain the expression except to say that it was early in the morning, just prior to leaving for the city to meet with publishers, and I hadn’t slept well the night before. And judging from everyone else’s somber expressions, neither had they. Or perhaps the photographer just forgot to say “Smile.”
[NOTE: The photo is from John Brockman’s archives. Two corrections: the date was April, not June, 1993; and Yuri Shvets was a Major in the KGB, not a Captain, at the time of his retirement.]
And here I am today, retired and living in the great state of Georgia, navigating a quieter path, and still missing the excitement of Washington, Moscow, and all the other world capitals I’ve been privileged to visit . . . but grateful to be able to write about them. In my view, a life devoid of tales worth telling would be a life only half-lived.
A Quieter Road
And what about the other characters in this story? Where are they now? Also in the course of my research, I inevitably ran across articles on Aksilenko and Shvets. It appears they’ve long since become U.S. citizens, enjoying the benefits of living here rather than in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Aksilenko, true to his nature, has kept a lower profile, reportedly running a business, writing a book of his own, and speaking from time to time before various private and governmental organizations.
Shvets, on the other hand — always the more flamboyant of the two — has maintained a somewhat more public persona. Despite his allegations that he continues to live in fear of retribution from certain forces in Russia and thus must keep his exact whereabouts secret, he has appeared frequently in print and on TV. He also has his own YouTube channel, wherein he expounds on matters of international political importance — in Russian, without English subtitles. I wonder: to whom is he speaking?
In any event, they both seem to have enjoyed the rewards of living in the land of the free. Good for them.
As for the self-proclaimed superspy Aldrich Ames, now 82, he continues to live out his life sentence, without possibility of parole, in Federal prison. Has the identity of the person or persons who blew the whistle on him ever been made public? Not to my knowledge. There were those, nearly three decades ago, who suggested it was none other than Valentin Aksilenko; but others said no, and offered a few different possibilities. I doubt we’ll ever know for sure.
Aldrich Ames (in prison)
But, if it should happen that Aksilenko — or even Yuri Shvets — was that person, then I would take great pleasure and pride in knowing that, in some very small and indirect way, I helped to make it happen. And if not, then at least it was . . . well, not fun, exactly . . . but undeniably interesting. Not everyone can say they spent two years hanging out with the FBI, the KGB, the CIA, the Russian Mafia, the Moscow Militia, two Russian defectors, and an extraordinary assortment of bit players. But I can.
And if I could turn the clock back to that cold February day in 1993, would I choose the same road again?
In fact, they’ve already started arriving. As of December 15th, Finland again closed its border with Russia for a month, “after more than 300 asylum seekers entered from Russia within two days.” [Essi Lehto and Anne Kauranen, Reuters News, Dec. 15, 2023.]
Vaalimaa Border Check Point Between Finland and Russia
In addition, in a move said by Finland to be orchestrated by Moscow in spiteful retaliation for Finland’s having joined NATO, “[s]ome 900 asylum seekers from nations such as Kenya, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria and Yemen entered Finland from Russia in November.” [Reuters News, Dec. 15, 2023.] The border crossings have been overwhelmed by the number of asylum seekers, and have had to be closed temporarily to prevent total chaos.
And we’re supposed to believe that this sudden, “spontaneous” influx of refugees from Africa and the Middle East traveled freely into and through Russia, all heading north for the wintry haven of Finland — a country with one of the most stringent immigration policies in the free world — all of their own volition and without proper documentation, expecting to be welcomed with open arms. Uh-huh.
Syrian Refugees
Vladimir Putin had earlier warned that there would be “problems” with Finland after it joined NATO — a move that added some 830 miles of NATO-aligned border with Russia. In an interview published on Sunday, December 17th, Putin offered up the following assurances:
“They [the West] took Finland and dragged it into NATO! Why, did we have any disputes with Finland? All disputes, including those of a territorial nature in the middle of the 20th Century, have all been resolved long ago. There were no problems, but now there will be, because we will now create the Leningrad military district there and definitely concentrate military units there.” He further stated that Russia “has no reason, no interest, no geopolitical interest, neither economic, nor political, nor military, to fight with NATO countries. There is no desire to spoil relations with them, we are interested in developing relations.” [CNN, Dec. 17, 2023.]
Russian Troops
Interesting, isn’t it? Once again, it’s the other guy’s fault for inciting trouble and forcing Russia to “defend” itself against Western aggression. Now, where have we heard that before? Oh, yes! Remember the buildup of Russian troops along three sides of the Ukraine border, beginning as early as March and April of 2021, and increasing until over 100,000 Russian troops were amassed along that border by December of 2022? And remember how Putin kept saying, first, that it was just a routine exercise, then later named it a “special military operation”? And how he insisted that there was no danger of an invasion of Ukraine . . . right up until that moment on February 24, 2022, when there was an invasion?
Putin’s Special Military Operation
That’s where we’ve heard that before! And now he’s going to create a military district on the Finnish border (oddly naming it the “Leningrad” Military District — a blast from the past, since “Leningrad” is just a memory from Soviet days). But it will be labeled a defensive position, with no possibility of an invasion. And we’re supposed to take him at his word. Again.
Yeah . . . like that’s gonna happen. I know that if I lived in Finland right now, I’d be packing a bag and mapping out an escape route.
It’s hard to believe, but the Russian “justice” system has just outdone itself.
Oleg Orlov
Here’s a headline from AP News dated December 14, 2023:
“Court voids fine given to Russian activist for criticizing war . . .” Gee, that’s sounds great, so far.
“ . . . and sends case back to prosecutors.” Oh, no! Why would they do that?
Let’s look at what happened to get Mr. Orlov in front of the court in the first place. To begin with, this pleasant-looking, grandfatherly gentleman is co-chairman of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning human rights group Memorial. But he was charged and convicted of publicly discrediting the Russian military when he posted an article on Facebook criticizing the invasion of Ukraine.
Oh, that’s not good. In fact, that’s now a serious criminal offense in Russia; one simply does not criticize the military, the government, or any member thereof. Not if one values one’s freedom, one doesn’t.
Anyway, Mr. Orlov must have thought he’d gotten off easy when a lower court simply fined him 150,000 rubles — the equivalent of about $1,500 — instead of a lengthy prison term such as others have received for similar infractions. But that’s still a lot of money, so Mr. Orlov and his attorneys appealed the sentence. And that was when they found out — and here’s where the WOW! factor comes in — that the prosecution had also appealed it, demanding that the fine be set aside and the sentence be changed to three years in prison. Their reason? The prosecutors said that investigators “failed to take into account Orlov’s motive.” [Dasha Litvinova, AP News, Dec. 14, 2023.] Thus, while the conviction would stand, the severity of the punishment was considered insufficient.
Now, I personally have never heard of a prosecutor appealing a conviction . . . much less overruling a judge. But I’m an American, and we have legal protections against things like double jeopardy. In the Russian judicial system . . . well, not so much.
A Defendant’s Place In the Courtroom
The Moscow City Court unsurprisingly sided with the prosecution and remanded the case — not to the lower court, but to the prosecutors! — “for revision,” thus nullifying the earlier verdict and canceling the fine. Mr. Orlov is quoted as having said in court:
“In my view, the authorities are afraid. So afraid of the free will of the people that they destroyed the institution of elections, that they prohibited holding any kind of demonstrations for various bogus reasons, so much so that they imprison people over words.” [Quoted by AP News from independent Russian news site Mediazona.]
Mr. Orlov is said to have brought a bag of personal belongings with him to court in case he was jailed immediately. Because that’s what you do in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
The report ends there. I assume there will be a second trial for Mr. Orlov, the outcome of which is pretty much a foregone conclusion. I’m sure he’ll have that bag with him then, too.
