Memorial recognized Khopr's defender Igor Zhitenev as a political prisoner
The Memorial human rights center has called Igor Zhitenev, an activist of the “In Defense of Khopr” movement, a political prisoner, according to the organization’s website. Memorial insists on the release of Zhitenev and the review of his criminal case. According to human rights activists, Zhitenev’s detention was a provocation, and his receipt of money was staged, which was confirmed by another accused, Mikhail Bezmensky.