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"It is clear the accusation is absurd," said Mr. Ponomarev. He believes the prosecution just adds the word "criminal" to every mention of a meeting or decision made by YUKOS, as they read from the company's files.

Lev Ponomarev also commented on the part of the accusation that discusses the illegality of using different oil prices within YUKOS. He says Rosneft and YUKOS are both vertically integrated companies, using internal prices; he wonders why Rosneft is not tried for illegality.

"Our task is to tell people about the absurdity of this trial. This trial is a shame for Russia and its judicial system." It is also a shame, Mr. Ponomarev continued, for President Medvedev who claimed that he would take the course of the rule of law.