Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Ryzhkov saw the questioning of prosecution witness Ilya Yurov, a former Bank Menatep employee from 1994 to 1999, noting that the court saw three brilliant men.

Commenting on the investigation, Ryzhkov said: "This is a totally incompetent investigation and three brilliant men, who, instead of working for the good of Russia and creating jobs, are involved in a senseless affair. In reality, the prosecution is trying to call criminal normal business practices of a company that was borrowing, paying back loans, trading, selling, etc."