It is with dismay we have learned of the forthcoming criminal trial against Oleg Orlov, head of Memorial and 2009 laureate of the European Parliament's Sakharov Prize. This trial, scheduled for 17 May and initiated by the Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, is clearly politically motivated and raises serious questions on the functioning of the Russian judicial system.

The trials and harassments against Oleg Orlov and other human rights defenders must stop and the attacks they face must be properly investigated by the authorities. Similarly, the Russian authorities must properly investigate the murder of Natalya Estemirova in Chechenya in July 2009 and bring the perpetrators to justice.

We will continue to closely monitor events in Russia and remain ready to step-up European and international pressure on Russia if needed.

Guy Verhofstadt                        Kristiina Oljuland
Leader of the ALDE Group        ALDE spokesperson on Russia