A Russian human rights leader facing felony charges gets some good news

A second expert examination of photographs Yuri Dmitriyev took of his adopted daughter has found that the images do not constitute pornography. Dmitriyev, the head of the Karelia branch of the human rights group “Memorial,” has been charged with the illegal possession of firearms and committing “depraved acts,” including the creation of child pornography.

Dmitriyev’s lawyers say the new expert review is a “major victory,” but prosecutors are demanding another study of the case materials.

Police arrested Dmitriyev in December 2016. Prosecutors say he took nude photos of his adopted daughter between 2008 and 2015 with the intention of creating child pornography. Dmitriyev says the photos were to monitor the child’s health. An initial review of the images found that some of the photos were pornographic.

Several prominent cultural figures have spoken out in Dmitriyev’s defense, including internationally acclaimed novelist Lyudmila Ulitskaya, who personally attended one of Dmitriyev’s hearings.