Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"Today's conviction in the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev on charges of embezzlement and money laundering raises serious questions about selective prosecution -- and about the rule of law being overshadowed by political considerations. This and similar cases have a negative impact on Russia's reputation for fulfilling its international human rights obligations and improving its investment climate. We welcome President Medvedev's modernization plans, but their fulfillment requires the development of a climate where due process and judicial independence are respected. We will monitor the appeals process." - Hillary Clinton, US Secretary of State

"The apparent selective application of the law to these individuals undermines Russia's reputation as a country committed to deepening the rule of law, The Russian government cannot nurture a modern economy without also developing an independent judiciary that serves as an instrument for furthering economic growth, ensuring equal treatment under the law, and advancing justice in a predictable and fair way." - Robert Gibbs, White House Press Secretary

"We remain concerned by the allegations of serious due process violations, and what appears to be an abusive use of the legal system for improper ends, particularly now that Khodorkovsky and Lebedev have been sentenced to the maximum penalty." - Mark Toner, Spokesman, US State Department

"If ever there were a case of ‘legal nihilism' - of an affront to the very values of equal justice that we hold dear - the case of Khodorkovsky is it." -US Senator John McCain (R-AZ), former Presidential candidate

"The disturbing verdict in the trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev reveals the Russian judiciary is not independent ... Russian authorities again have demonstrated that they can act above the law at will. The second trial, just as the first, has been unfair and politically motivated. This is not only a sad day for Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Platon Lebedev, and their families, but also for all those that seek a more open Russia based on the rule of law." - US Senator Roger Wicker (R-MISS), Senate Foreign Relations Committee Member

"Today's conviction shows Russia has missed an important opportunity to reverse course and demonstrate that the Russian leadership is serious about promoting free speech and human rights." He added: "Khodorkovsky remains a victim of a judicial system that has failed to put the rule of law before political whims." - US Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Helsinki Commission

"The new guilty verdict imposed on Mikhail Khodorkovsky late last year makes it appear that the only crime that's actually punishable in the Russian Federation is opposition to Putin." - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee

"President Medvedev's call for respect for the rule of law in Russia needs to be followed by concrete deeds." He added: "Today's conviction means Khodorkovsky will continue to be a political prisoner of the Kremlin and his case further taints Russia's human rights record." - Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL), Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission

"The Khodorkovsky affair long ago erased any notion in Russia of an independent judiciary; it made plain that the courts do the bidding of a corrupt hierarchy that will stop at little to enrich itself." - David Remnick, editor, The New Yorker

"There is the personal tragedy of a man tried and convicted for crimes he did not commit. There is the tragedy of the Russian political system which was once on the verge of genuine democracy but now is no more than a framework for enriching Kremlin officials." - Joe Nocera, journalist, New York Times

Other Comments

"The second Yukos trial makes a mockery of Russia`s legal institutions. The two relevant ministers at the time, German Gref and Viktor Khristenko, have both testified in court that former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky could not possibly have stolen 350 million tons of oil from Yukos. Any normal court would have dismissed the case after that evidence. Until this bad joke ends, it is difficult to take Russia`s courts seriously". - Anders Aslund, Senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics

"Symbolizing all that is wrong with the Russian system is the current trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his former partner, Platon Lebedev, who ran the YUKOS Oil Company. The absurd charges against them-for example, embezzling 350 million tons of oil--are an attack on the fundamental right of individuals to own property under law. As this is the second trial for both men, it is a palpable judicial farce." - Stephen Blank, Professor, Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army War College

"The charges are 100% completely ridiculous. It's a combination of accounting naivety and the fact that it's a political trial."- Bruce Misamore, Former CFO of YUKOS

"Impressions amount that doing business in Russia is insecure. There is no independent judiciary, no rule of law, no respect of the fundamental rights and freedoms. All see the examples like the Khodorkovsky case and think: how can I do business in Russia, when authorities can seize my assets, put me in prison or apply force, if I get in their way."- Kenneth Roth, Head of Human Rights Watch

"If Khodorkovsky is proven to be innocent, then I think the market would welcome that. But, again, Russia is driven by so much more important things right now than politics." - Tom Mundy, Strategist, Renaissance Capital

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"I am very disappointed. The trials of Mikhail Khodorkovsky were the litmus test of how the rule of law and human rights are treated in today's Russia. In effect it has become the emblematic symbol of all the systemic problems within the judiciary. I believe that President Medvedev is genuine about the modernisation agenda of his country. In order for it to become reality opportunities like todays cannot be missed. There is still a very long path for Russia to take. I would like to express my deep solidarity with the entire family of Mr Khodorkovsky. I met with his mother Marina Khodorkovskaya on 15 December in Strasbourg. She is a brave woman whose courage and faith I strongly admire. "

"The case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky has become an emblematic symbol of the systemic problems of the rule of law, legal nihilism and human rights in today's Russia. I cannot but reiterate my solidarity with Mr Khodorkovsky and his family. I call strongly for the separation of powers between the judiciary, executive and legislature to be fully respected in Russia. Only then, will the modernization agenda which President Medvedev promotes so strongly have a chance of becoming reality." - Jerzy Buzek, European Parliament President

"The oil company YUKOS, Mikhail Khodorkovskii, and his business associate, Platon Lebedev, who were sentenced today to six additional years of imprisonment. Allegations have been made of irregularities in the proceedings, and these are a matter of serious concern and disappointment to us. Judicial independence and the right of each and every citizen to a fair trial, as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Russia is a party, are of crucial importance to the strategic partnership between the European Union and the Russian Federation and rule of law is a cornerstone of the Partnership for Modernisation. The European Union will continue to follow the Khodorkovsky and Lebedev case closely and will raise this issue with Russia. As emphasised at the EU-Russia Summit on 7 December in Brussels, the EU expects Russia to respect its international commitments in the field of human rights and the rule of law."

"[I have] taken note of today's verdict. [The European Union] will continue to follow developments very closely, including the forthcoming announcement of the sentence. As emphasized at the recent summit...the EU expects Russia to respect its international commitments in the field of human rights and the rule of law." - Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs

"MEPs have expressed great alarm over the reported irregularities of the trial and the arbitrary nature of Messrs. Khodorkovsky and Lebedev's treatment. We remain committed to monitoring the case and intend to raise this case and its implications for the rule of law in Russia once parliament considers the EU-Russia partnership and cooperation agreement."

"The sadly inevitable outcome of the Khordokovsky show trial deals a further blow to the rule of law in Russia and makes a mockery of President Medvedev's 'modernisation agenda. It is simply not credible to talk of modernisation in a state with such a highly politicised judiciary, which openly flouts the rule of law." - Heidi Hautala MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Subcommittee on Human Rights

"Our most pessimistic thoughts have now become reality: Khodorkovsky and Lebedev have been found guilty and will remain in prison for years to come. It is obvious that this has happened not without intervention from the highest political circles in Russia, we should remember the statements made by V. Putin in a TV programme just a little over a week before the verdict. This trial has once again demonstrated who has the upper hand in Russia - unfortunately, it is not the court. The court is only in the position of obedient servant." - Dr Laima Andrikienė MEP, Member of the European Parliament and the European Parliament's Rapporteur of the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World 2009

"The guilty verdict and especially the very harsh sentence announced against Mr Khodorkovsky does not deliver justice but instead serves only political ends. I condemn this judgment as another infringement of the rule of law in a country where the judiciary is not free from political interference, contrary to the obligations and commitments stemming from Russia's membership in the Council of Europe." - Christos Pourgourides, Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Other Comments

"I would also like to take this opportunity to strongly appeal to the authorities of the Russian Federation, particularly in this time when the negotiations on the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement have been resumed with the European Union, to take seriously their commitment to respect the law in their country. The fate of political prisoners is indeed of highest importance for the European Union." - Hans-Gert Pöttering, former President of the European Parliament

"The European Parliament urges the Council and Commission to pay the utmost attention to the ongoing second trial of former Yukos Oil chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which is already replete with severe due process violations; calls on the Russian authorities to combat arbitrariness, to respect the rule of law and not to use the judiciary as a political tool." - European Parliament resolution on the preparations for the EU-Russia Summit in Stockholm (November 2009)

The handling of these and several other cases exposes deep weaknesses in Russia's justice system. The release of these people will be a benchmark of Russia's success combating ‘legal nihilism'. The EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement should be contingent upon resolution of rule-of-law issues including the issue of political prisoners." - Urszula Gacek MEP (PPE-DE)  

Comments on The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"I am deeply concerned by the implications of this case concerning Mikhail Khodorkovsky for confidence in how the law is applied in Russia. The UK calls on Russia to respect the principles of justice and apply the rule of law in a non-discriminatory and proportional way. In the absence of this the UK and much of the international community will regard such a trial as a retrograde step" - William Hague MP, UK Foreign Secretary (Conservative)

"[Mr. Putin's comments ahead of the verdict were] blatant political interference of a kind that is quite disgraceful. It is manifestly a politically inspired trial and Khodorkovsky is in effect a political prisoner . . . companies contemplating investing in Russia will think hard and long about whether it is safe to do so." - Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former UK Foreign Secretary (Conservative)

"Our concerns include the arbitrary application of the rule of law, due process and fair treatment of Khodorkovsky and others who have been arrested or prosecuted in the Yukos Affair, access to lawyers and medical care, conditions of detention and the alleged harassment of defence teams and witnesses." - David Miliband MP, former UK Foreign Secretary (Labour)

"This has been a politically motivated trial from the outset and the sentence is every bit as predictable as the verdict. It is deeply depressing that Russia is stepping backwards in terms of the freedom of the media and the independence of the judiciary. [Foreign Secretary] William Hague should condemn the whole trial as unambiguously as the US and Germany have done. It is very disappointing that the Judge delivered the verdict exactly as the prosecutors requested and that Khodorkovsky was given the maximum sentence allowed for these ludicrous, trumped up charges. Medvedev and Putin have failed the key test which would have demonstrated the independence of Russia's criminal justice system. By keeping Khodorkovsky in jail until 2017, they have further confirmed the political agenda behind this case in ensuring that he is behind bars beyond the 2012 presidential elections."

"Today's verdict is a troubling indication of Russia's political direction over the next few years. President Medvedev had called for an end to "legal nihilism" as part of a wider reform effort and was widely believed to want Khodorkovsky's acquittal. It seems that he has been overruled by Vladimir Putin who last week even appeared to pre-empt the verdict by declaring that Khodorkovsky should stay in prison. Meaningful reform is at a standstill and Medvedev looks like a President in name alone." - Chris Bryant MP, UK Shadow Minister for Justice and Former Minister of State for Europe (Labour)

"By all accounts, the rule of law in the conduct of this trial has been abandoned. This has serious implications for the confidence of overseas investors." - Richard Ottaway MP (Conservative)

"It does come up in almost every meeting you have with prospective investors in Russia. They align the idea of Khodorkovsky with the idea of expropriation of assets, with the idea that Russia has no rule of law at all. And many many people don't invest in this country because of this issue." - Liam Halligan, Chief Economist, Prosperity Capital Management

"This sentence is an act of political revenge, not of justice. It is also one that will do real damage to Russia's long-term interests. Russia desperately needs to attract foreign investment and technology to modernise and diversify its economy. But that will only be possible if Russia becomes the kind of open society in which investors are protected and the rule of law applies. The continued persecution of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev is the act of a regime that is weak and scared. The ruling elite around Vladimir Putin knows that the system it created is beginning to falter and fears losing control. That is why there has been a sharp deterioration in human rights over the last eighteen months. But increased repression is simply exacerbating the serious problems that Russia faces. Only a Russia in which the judicial system is free of political interference can thrive economically and become a trusted partner for Britain and the rest of the EU." - David Clark, Chair of UK think tank Russia Foundation

Other Comments

"The Khodorkovsky trial is a scandal and it's a scandal that is directly destructive to Russia's own economic position in the world. As case that is very, very visibly slanted.... and is a demonstration of what can happen to you if you get too deeply into disfavour with the Kremlin". Sir Anthony Brenton, British diplomat, Former British Ambassador to Russia (2004-2008)

"The overtly political nature of the prosecutions of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev (now serving 8 years imprisonment), confirmed by the Council of Europe and by British courts in a series of extradition cases, has destroyed any hope for independence of the judiciary or a fair trial." - Bill Bowring Professor, School of Law, Birkbeck College

"I do not wish to be too partisan. However, supporters of Mr. Khodorkovsky and of other political prisoners in Russia, and human rights organizations, are disappointed in the extreme that the United Kingdom Government have not taken a public stand to criticize such behavior, and have not called on the Russian authorities to observe their own rules and those of the European convention on human rights." - Malcolm Bruce MP (Liberal Democrat)

"...We have made clear our concerns about the treatment of Mr. Khodorkovsky, and others who have been arrested or prosecuted in the YUKOS affair, both bilaterally and through the EU... Our embassy in Moscow is watching current developments in Mr. Khodorkovsky's case closely, and is participating in trial monitoring with EU partners and the US. We will continue to follow the progress of Mr. Khodorkovsky's case." - Caroline Flint MP, Former Minister of State for Europe (Labour)

"The Yukos affair and the imprisonment of Mikhail Khodorkovsky exposed, for the first time for many Western observers, a darker, coercive nature in the Russian leadership that pointed to worrying prospects for the fragile and (by this stage) superficial Russian democracy." - Luke Chambers, Journalist, Eurasia Review

"What we are calling for today is for the immediate release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky from prison in Russia. We are very very concerned, and I think the effect that the trial and the detention is having on Russia's international image I think is very unhelpful." - Greg Hands MP, Principle Private Secretary to Chancellor George Osborne (Conservative)

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"[The verdict] is very important, not only for the future of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, it's also important for the future of Russia. Of course it will influence economic development and public attitude." - Mikhail Kasyanov, former Russian Prime Minister

"The Khodorkovsky case is a malignant tumour affecting the Russian political system. The Khodorkovsky case set a pattern whereby the interference of politicians became a natural part of the trial process. And, as in trying to remove a cancerous growth, a decision by certain people to wash their hands of the Khodorkovsky Affair will not just be a political decision to release Khodorkovsky after agreeing definite conditions. Sooner or later, however, the first step must be taken." - Konstantin Sonin, Professor, Russian Economic School

"I really find it difficult to imagine how someone could steal oil and then sell it illegally. The pipeline belongs to the State. Oil enters the pipeline and it is pumped along. Tankers carrying oil are examined by the customs. Everything that passes through the pipeline is tracked and monitored; likewise, the customs oversees and supervises the export of oil in tankers." - Alexei Kandaurov, KGB Major-General (Reserves)

"[Khodorkovsky's imprisonment is] one of the irritants that investors traditionally react to. We have our work cut out for us to improve the investment climate; [the case is] one episode, but we have systemic issues that aren't resolved." - German Gref, Chief Executive Officer, OAO Sberbank and former Minister of Economics and Trade

"This is a big blow to Medvedev because now everyone really knows who is making all the decisions. The West will think just one thing after watching this: things that Putin says are transformed into action -- and things that Medvedev says are not." - Yury Korgunyuk, INDEM political research institute

"The sentence passed today was absurd and unlawful. I consider that the charges themselves had no legal substance. Today's sentence is linked to the attempt Khodorkovsky once made to break out of the circle of flawed contacts between big business and the regime. It was possible, thanks to these contacts, to earn a great deal of money and the regime also enriched itself."

"Our party considers the sentence to be the result of a political decision taken outside the courtroom. This is yet another demonstration that the rule of law does not exist in Russia. There can be no doubt that the directors of Yukos were not put on trial for the deeds formally examined in court. The verdict on Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev is politically motivated and therefore it is unjust and must be overturned. There must be an end to the domination of oligarchy." - Sergei Mitrokhin, Chairman, Yabloko party

"The Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial does not represent a triumph for justice. If the sentence for the theft of our national wealth, our natural resources, concerned all oligarchs and not just Khodorkovsky then we could talk about justice. What we see is the authorities settling certain purely political issues." - Sergei Obukhov, Central Committee secretary, Russian Communist Party

"This decision has no relation to the law or justice. It shows the extreme pettiness and vindictiveness of the regime and, of course, will have far-reaching negative consequences for Russia. There will be capital flight from the country, a reduction in investment, business will emigrate and you can forget about innovation and modernisation. This sentence has clarified the situation within the Medvedev-Putin tandem and shown that the country is ruled, as before, by the prime minister." - Boris Nemtsov, co-chairman, Solidarity and the Popular Freedom party

Other Comments

"In my view Khodorkovsky and Lebedev are being transformed in the courtroom from 'criminals', as the investigation and prosecution would like to see them, into political figures who are drawing public attention to the absurdity of the proceedings. The result of this trial, with all its publicly reported details and the absurdity of the charges, will be to condemn the Russian judicial system as a whole. If Khodorkovsky and Lebedev can maintain their intellectual advantage to the end the verdict passed on them will be transferred to our country's judicial system: an acquittal or a conviction." - Natalya Gevorkyan, columnist, Gazeta.ru

"The person who denies there is a political element in the Yukos case is a fool. There is a political element but there are also real sins. In such situations as Aleksanyan and Bakhmina, however, it seems to me, there should be a little humanism." - Vladimir Mamontov, Chief editor, Izvestia newspaper

"The litmus test whether Medvedev or Putin hold real power is the Khodorkovsky case. When the first trial of the oligarch began, let me remind you, the then head of the presidential administration Dmitry Medvedev, expressed his dissatisfaction. Today Medvedev is president of Russia but once again Khodorkovsky is in the dock. The only difference being that now Dmitry Medvedev does not make any public statement of dissatisfaction. It is unnecessary, I think, to provide any other arguments." Sergei Reshulsky, Communist Party secretary

"It would be good to release Khodorkovsky and let him work for the greater glory of Russia. He is one of the country's best managers, one of its brightest thinkers, and we don't have that many. What's the real problem with Khodorkovsky? He should admit his guilt. That hint has been dropped repeatedly. Come on, Mikhail, admit your guilt, show you're sorry and we'll let you go. Khodorkovsky doesn't want to admit he was wrong. In that case you're probably thinking of going into politics? But we don't like it when someone takes up politics without permission. Still, he's been inside now for six years. Time to let him go." - Vladimir Sungorkin, Chief Editor, Komsomolskaya Pravda

"The Yukos scam was ‘legal nihilism' par excellence, but most Russians have a completely different version of the event. The Kremlin's 180-degree PR spin on the Yukos nationalization should be a case study for any nation aspiring to create a Ministry of Truth. As Putin explained in his December call-in show, the Yukos affair was not government expropriation at all, but a way to give money that Yukos ‘stole from the people' back to the people by helping them buy new homes and repair old ones. Putin, it turns out, is also Russia's Robin Hood". - Michael Bohm, Opinion page editor, The Moscow Times

"In recent years, it is not only the investors' money that is being put at risk, but also their personal freedom. It is proved by cases like [the trial] of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, the political motivations behind which are no longer doubted by anyone; or the mysterious death in custody of Hermitage Capital's Sergey Magnitsky, who has fallen victim to reiderstvo. ...Therefore, even with all the attractiveness of Russian economy, the risks to foreign investment in Russia continue to stay very high."- Olga Kudeshkina, Former Moscow City Court Judge

"As an economist I can assure you that everything that is happening at the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial is utter nonsense. I have the feeling that there is a certain agreement whereby Putin retains control of Yukos and Khodorkovsky and President Dmitry Medvedev must not enter that territory."

"If Khodorkovsky is released, the image of Russian justice will been saved. For, what we are witnessing now in this courtroom is a disgrace for Russia. This shows that there is no justice here." - Yevgeny Yasin, Director of Research, Higher School of Economics

"This is a disgrace not only for Danilkin, but for the entire system of Russian justice as a whole...It looks like the guilty verdict is going to be as clumsy, groundless and far from jurisprudence as the current decision on extending the term of detention to 17 November." - Grigory Pasko, journalist

"If Judge Danilkin issues a just verdict then Russia has a future. If not, I fear that we may be seeing the end of Russia history. An unjust decision will be a very serious blow against a judicial system that is already weak. As a result, our country will slide ever further backwards, towards its Soviet, neo-feudal past." - Hegumenos Pyotr (Meshcherinov), Moscow Danilov Monastery 

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"I am disappointed with the verdict against Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the harsh sentence. The impression remains that political motives played a role in this process. This contradicts Russia's repeatedly expressed intention to follow the road to full rule of law." - Angela Merkel, Chancellor (CDU)

"The way the trial has been conducted is extremely dubious and a step backward on the road toward a modernisation of the country. It is in the interest of our Russian partners to take these concerns seriously and to stand up for the rule of law, democracy and human rights." - Guido Westerwelle MdB, German Foreign Minister (FDP)

"The fact that the Kremlin critic was convicted again for the same facts, for which he was already seven years in prison, is absolutely unacceptable. The announcements of Russian politicians to respect principles of the rule of law in the future have proved to be meaningless. Verdict and sentence were clearly politically motivated."

"The trial lacks rule of law standards and is clearly politically motivated. Since relevant witnesses testified in favor of Khodorkovsky it was hardly comprehensible how it could come to this verdict. The new verdict was a tough setback for Russia on the way to rule of law. The very idea that criminal law is used as an instrument of power is devastating." - Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger MdB, Federal Minister of Justice (FDP)

"I am very outraged at the guilty verdict. The verdict does not cast the conditions in Russia in a good light, [It is] an example of political abuse of the justice system. [President] Dmitry Medvedev's rhetoric about the rule of law is exactly that - mere rhetoric. The judgment is a crass misinterpretation of what happened in court." - Markus Loening MdB, Human Rights Commissioner of the Federal Government (FDP)

"For the German government, respect for the rule of law in trials, as President [Dmitry] Medvedev has called for and as the chancellor [Angela Merkel] has frequently said, are being put to the test with this trial. Respecting the rule of law in trials is of the greatest importance for the development of a modern state based on the rule of law in Russia. The German government has followed this trial critically from the start and will continue to watch how it develops with close attention." - Christoph Steegmans MdB , Deputy Government Spokesman (FDP)

"Today's guilty verdict against the two defendants confirmed the concern that this process is not subject to the rule of law, to which Russia has committed. In the first trial, the defendants were convicted of tax evasion; in the second process Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were accused of having stolen money from their own companies. The two defendants therefore have been convicted in the same matter twice, but with contradictory explanations. After the pre-sentencing remarks of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin about the Khodorkovsky case a different verdict of the judge could not be expected. This adds to the already long existing impression that this is a politically motivated trial and conviction. It is therefore to be expected that in his reasoning the judge is looking for a way to keep Khodorkovsky also in custody over the 2012 presidential election." - Andreas Schockenhoff MdB (CDU)

"Today's verdict is a fatal signal. The assurances from President Medvedev on the importance of the rule of law remain mere rhetoric. The steered democracy was an invention of then-President Putin. It has now been publicly supplemented by Prime Minister Putin by the steered judiciary. Who, in Russia, dares to oppose the Kremlin or acts responsibly with his economic power is at the mercy of this controlled judiciary. The Kremlin ignores the call for rule of law and investment security. Not just the people in Russia itself, but also its Western partners are affected. But without freedom rights, democratic control, protection of property rights and rule of law there can be no modernization of Russia."

"President Medvedev has shouldered the political responsibility for tackling ‘legal nihilism'. This is a very important commitment when it comes to the Yukos case. During the first trial it was a matter of tax evasion. Now, during the second trial, there is much more active use of words such as ‘stole, theft'. This all indicates that the present trial is an openly political." - Marieluise Beck MdB (Green Party)

"This guilty verdict is a bitter disappointment. I fiercely criticize today's conviction of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. This outcome was unfortunately the logical consequence of an unfair and politically motivated trial. Russia has thus missed another opportunity to support the rule of law and an independent judiciary in the country. The guilty verdict is a major setback for President Medvedev's announcement to fight the legal nihilism in Russia. Additionally, the political credibility of policy makers in the Russian Federation, namely Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, has been badly damaged. There is obviously an interest of the Russian regime, to imprison Khodorkovsky until after the presidential elections." - Marina Schuster MdB, Human Rights and Humanitarian spokeswoman (FDP)

"[The conviction is] unacceptable and a sign of a politically controlled Russian justice system. In a show process the judge implemented a verdict which had already been politically ruled a long time ago. This guilty verdict means not only a human tragedy for the former Yukos chief, but also a defeat for the liberal course of President Medvedev, Germany and the EU must consistently support the release of Khodorkovsky and the today arrested demonstrators and opposition politicians."

"The verdict against Khodorkovsky and his former business partner let's assume, that both "will disappear behind bars forever by the will of the Russian rulers. Federal Government and EU should now make it absolutely clear to the Kremlin that only a rule-of-law-Russia can be a strategic partner. Influential western investors are called upon "to end their opportunistic silence." - Claudia Roth MdB, Co-Leader of the Green Party

"Today's guilty verdict against Mikhail Khodorkovsky is a setback for the reform efforts of the Russian President. Khodorkovsky's name has long been symbolic for the rule of law problems of Russia. The reputational damage caused by the verdict is immense and is likely to have a deterrent effect on potential foreign investors, which the country still very much needs. A country in which the quality of the investment climate is more likely to be defined by having good contacts with decision makers as by the legal framework should, in the long term, have a problem to attract sufficient new capital into the country". - Gernot Erler MdB, deputy chairman of the SPD parliamentary group

"[The trial was] considered a test of the rule of law in Russia. This issue is often raised in our discussions with representatives of business. I am not going to hide that it has caused concern" - Ulrich Brandenburg, Germany's Ambassador to Russia

"Today in Moscow, Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev were found guilty to have stolen the oil of their own company. The charges were absurd, the process a farce, the verdict foreseeable. The public prejudgment by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was a clear hint to the outcome of the trial. The current prison sentence of the two defendants will expire in autumn 2011. Shortly after that, parliamentary elections are held in Russia, in March 2012, the President will be newly elected. Since Mr Khodorkovsky is seen as a potential adversary in the Kremlin, he and Lebedev are not allowed to be freed earlier. Therefore, a new indictment was constructed, which the court has processed dutifully. Anyone who has participated as observer in these hearings could not help the impression of a show trial. The Khodorkovsky process belies the reform rhetoric by President Dmitry Medvedev. The 'legal nihilism' which he lamented about is part of the system of "guided democracy" which has been expanded since Putin took power. In today's Russia, tax authorities and criminal justice system are proven instruments of state power in order to remove unwanted contemporaries out of the way and to bring companies under control." - Ralf Fuecks, President of the Heinrich Boell Foundation

"President Dmitry Medvedev's announcement to 'fight against legal nihilism' appears as a mere phrase. Russia has to finally implement the standards of the European Convention on Human Rights. Public prejudgements of Khodorkovsky, as expressed by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are an open interference with the judiciary." - Peter Franck, Russia expert , Amnesty International Germany

Other Comment

"This trial borders on the absurd."- Markus Loning, German High Commissioner on Human Rights

"Mikhail Khodorkovsky has long since become a symbol for how the Russian state treats its independent critics. Hardly anyone, even in Russia, doubts the political motivation behind the trial, this second one even clearer than the first in 2005. Now we are looking at a show of power. Khodorkovsky personifies the type of enlightened, emancipated and independent citizen that authoritarian states fear more than armies."

"Mikhail Khodorkovsky has long since become a symbol for how the Russian state treats its independent critics. Hardly anyone, even in Russia, doubts the political motivation behind the trial, this second one even clearer than the first in 2005. Now we are looking at a show of power. Khodorkovsky personifies the type of enlightened, emancipated and independent citizen that authoritarian states fear more than armies." - Marieluise Beck MdB, Member of Committee on Foreign Affairs (Green)

"I really doubt it is a fair trial with truly independent judges and prosecution that will take everything into consideration that may exonerate a defendant...I would dispute any sweeping statement that everything Mr. Khodorkovsky is accused of can be generally judged criminal. Some of the acts were performed by everyone, and legal at the time."

The second trial against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev must repulse neutral observers, with a potential custodial sentence of up to 20 years for the same case and facts that were the basis for the first trial, except that they are being evaluated completely differently than they were the first time. (...) Any lawyer must notice that this is not sustainable, it is in fact contradictory and thus arbitrary." - Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger MdB, Rapporteur for Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe (Liberal Party)

"The second trial currently underway is all the more a test case to see whether the Russian justice system will make the grade. There are many signs to indicate that the new trial is also politically motivated. The charges seem absurd alone from the supposed amount of embezzled crude oil, which was enough that if it were filled into train cars and lined up, the line would circle the earth three times. The trial is a test case for the seriousness with which the reforms are being undertaken and for Medvedev's general credibility. Medvedev's credibility and his agenda for reform will largely be determined by the outcome of the test case Khodorkovsky/Lebedev in court." - Markus Meckel MdB, Deputy Spokesman on Foreign Affairs (Social Democrats)

"I feel justified in my concern that this trial begs significant question marks regarding rule of law and that it does not conform to the conditions of rule of law that Russia has obliged itself to uphold, as well as the concern that it could be used for political ends...The Khodorkovsky trial is an important test case for the credibility of the Russian justice system Medvedev holds dear, due to its signal effect for the economic and legal culture within Russia...Thus the second trial against Khodorkovsky is also a test case for the capability of Russia to modernize." - Dr. Andreas Schockenhoff MdB, Parliamentary Faction & Coordinator of German-Russian Intersocietal Cooperation (CDU)

"The new charges against Khodorkovsky belong to the most bizarre excrescences of the Russian justice system, that already produces lots of bizarre stuff. This starts with the sheer extent of the accusations: Accordingly, Khodorkovsky deserves an entry in the Guinness Book of Records as the greatest oil theft of all times. Allegedly he stole 350 tons of oil - this amount is used in complete Germany in three years. The first indictment was already questionable, since it lacked a legal basis. (...) The second indictment is even worse, since it lacks an economic logic. Instead it has a political logic: MBK shall be kept in prison and his financial means shall be taken." - Christian Esch, Journalist

"Already the first trial against Russia's formerly richest man became the symbol of the questionable and arbitrary justice system. Many of the privatization profiteers could have been accuses of fraud and tax evasion but Khodorkovsky pushed for a liberalization of the energy market, for private pipeline routes to China while President Vladimir Putin wanted to put the best pieces of the national industry under state control. And Khodorkovsky used his wealth politically, supported oppositional parties and groups. The authorities started its investigations regarding the new accusations already shortly after the ruling against Khodorkovsky in the first trial, therefore, for many the new trial looks like a long-term strategy to keep the former concern head in prison for a long time." - Frank Nienhuysen, Journalist

"The trial is seen as a test for the Russian justice system by many observers - and as a practical test for President Dmitri Medvedev. Medvedev, who is a lawyer himself, has repeatedly spoken against legal nihilism in Russia and demanded an independent justice system." - Verena Diethelm, Journalist

"Critics (...) see the new trial as a kind of test for the Russian justice system as well as for the credibility for Russia's President Dmitri Medvedev. He had put himself forward as a advocate for rule of law prior to his election in March 2008 and announced full-bodied to override legal nihilism and the rampant corruption and to promote the development of a court system which is not sub-ducted by political pressure and political influence. This procedure is typical for the Khodorkovsky case. Also in the first trial relevant files were held back from the lawyers until shortly before the trial day." - Barbara Oertel, Journalist 

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"The judicial procedure is not finished since the defence intend to appeal against the verdict," noted the French foreign ministry. "We call on the Russian authorities to take full account of our concerns about this trial in relation to the strengthening in Russia of our common values - the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights and liberties." - Christine Farge, French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman

"[This trial is important] notably for human rights promoters in Russia and elsewhere, and for all people attached to the principles of the rule of law." - Bernard Kouchner, former French Foreign Minister (PSF)

"This sentence is a cruel, inhuman and gross mistake made by Putin" - Noelle Lenoir, former French Minister of European Affairs

"We call on Russian authorities to take full account of the concerns the conduct of this trial raised with regard to the necessary affirmation of the values in Russia are part of our common heritage: rule of law, respect for fundamental rights and freedoms...As pointed out by President Dmitry Medvedev himself, the consolidation of the rule of law is a condition necessary for the success of the modernization of Russia " - French Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Other Comments

"This trial seems kafkaian, Khodorkovsky never had a chance to defend himself in a fair trial, his rights as a human are not respected." - Herve Mariton, National Assembly Member (UMP)

"This trial will be a test for the new Russian President Dimitri Medvedev, who has promised to put an end to legal nihilism...In 2004, the first trial was a total fabrication to silence a business magnate who was a rival to Vladimir Putin and to take the control of his oil group, YUKOS. Four years later, the Khodorkovsky family, which remained very unified around its prisoner, hopes that 'attorney' Dimitri Medvedev will watch over a fair trial." - Lorraine Millot, Journalist

"I can only congratulate Councilor Amsterdam and the Russian attorneys of Mikhail Khodorkovsky for the courageous and endless work they are doing...I want to assure you of my enduring support and reiterate my admiration for the dignity of the accused." - Andre Glucksmann, philosopher, commentator, and specialist on international affairs

"The fight of MBK, courageous, with a great dignity, against a system that tries without success to destroy him, made him become a symbol, an icon of human rights in Russia." - François Zimeray, French Ambassador for Human Rights 

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"In the last hours, in the occasion of the guilty verdict pronounced against Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the Governments of the major democracies of the world expressed their concerns about the trial and the lack of respect of human rights in Russia. The only government which was silent is that of Silvio Berlusconi and this is sadly self-explanatory." - Senator Zanda, Vice President of the Democratic Party group in the Upper Chamber

"The strong reactions to the guilty verdict against former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky of the most important democracies of the world, including the US with Hilary Clinton and the leading European cabinets, should lead the Italian Government to take stance in this grey case. Last year all parties, with the exception of the Northern League, adopted a Parliamentary motion promoted by Casini urging the Government to activate all diplomatic channels as to guarantee the respect of human rights and the rights of defense for Khodorkovsky, Lebedev and for all Russian citizens. Today it is time to take into account this motion and adopt a strong position towards this preoccupying verdict which confirms that Russia is silently going towards a regime." - Hon. Roberto Rao MP, Union of Centre

"With Berlusconi, Italy has turned into the black sheep of the international community. The Government is keeping an embarassing silence towards the guilty verdict against Khodorkovsky while the US and the rest of the EU have strongly raised their concerns. To avoid any troubles with his friend Putin, the Prime Minister lowers once again the international image of our country." - Hon. Leoluca Orlando MP, Spokesperson of Italia dei Valori Party

"A few days ago, the trial ended with a sentence that will keep Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev in prison until 2017. I am sure you know the Khodorkovsky case. The case concerns the former Yukos oil company magnate and his business partner Platon Lebedev, in jail since 2003 after being arrested for fraud and tax evasion and sentenced to eight years imprisonment in Siberia. In 2007 they were eligible for parole, according to Russian laws, having served half of their sentence, but the new allegations denied this possibility. A new trial began for embezzlement and money laundering and ended a few days ago with the known outcome. The sentence raised strong and firm reactions by the most important democracies in the world, from U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the most authoritative European leaders. Respect for human rights and the right of defence in Russia represents an indicator of the degree of democracy of the country that cannot be underestimated. I urge you again, therefore, to take action personally and concretely, choosing the path of justice and legal certainty. The economic and trade relations are important and Russia is certainly a strategic partner for our country, especially on the energy front. But the respect and protection of human dignity have a much higher value. We know your personal friendship with the Russian Prime Minister and with President Medvedev. You openly talked with pride about this special relationship on several occasions and I believe this will help you to ask the Kremlin, the Prime Minister and especially President Medvedev to concretely and transparently commit to respect human rights and the right the defense for Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Platon Lebedev and for all Russian citizens. Mr. President, it is time that you follow the indication of the Parliament; it is the time that the Government take a strong position towards this worrying ruling. I am sure that taking this commitment will honor yourself as Prime Minister and as political leader as well as it will honor Italy." - Hon. Pier Ferdinando Casini, President of the UDC Party and former President of the Lower Chamber

Responsible for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Party, former Minister of Justice and former Minister of International Trade: The new sentence to fourteen years' imprisonment for Mikhail Khodorkovsky highlights the extent of the political persecution against the former tycoon. Sentences of this kind tell us how far Russia is from modernizing its judicial system and ensuring respect for human rights and democracy. Every democrat must express concern and alarm for the numerous violations of the rule of law and legality in Russia. Therefore, following the protest coming from the Governments of many democratic countries, including Germany, France and the United States, our Government should also express indignation along with the international community. We thus expect that a clear and unequivocal statement arrives from Palazzo Chigi (i.e. the Government)" - Hon. Piero Fassino MP

Other Comments

"...The personal friendship that unites you, Honourable Prime Minister Mr. Berlusconi, with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin is well known. A relation that you, Mr. President, are rightly proud about and that I believe puts you into the position to ask the Prime Minister and President Medvedev a tangible and concrete act which can be rapidly verified in its effects to establish the respect of human rights and the right to defense of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Platon Lebedev and all Russian citizens." - Pier Ferdinando Casini, UDC President

"Khodorkovsky's problems start when he decides to oppose Putin's rule of power."- Daniele Capezzone, Spokesman of Forza Italia - Berlusconi's Party, Notizie Radicali

"If Russia's new president Dimitri Medvedev wants to show that he deserves his post and he is not just the humble executor of the powerful Prime Minister Putin, he should give some sign of change. The two most important ones the Western world is looking at are the release of the former oil man Mikhail Khodorkovsky and a proper justice for Anna Politkovskaya."

"A new trial for Khodorkovsky represents a serious problem concerning the violation of human rights in Russia." - Franco Venturini, Editorialist

"There was a realistic possibility that Khodorkovsky could have gained freedom in two years time. The new trial changes that perspective." - Fabrizio Dragosei, foreign correspondent

"Medvedev is about to celebrate a year in power whilst Putin's number one enemy is about to face a second trial."- Luigi Spinola, Journalist

"The former oligarch has been the first victim of Putin's power." - Etienne Pramotton, political commentator  

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"I think we have to talk openly about those issues...We can't give up our judgment on the situation in Russia and must talk openly and critically about things that aren't democratic. The trial of Khodorkovsky wasn't an example of democratic conduct. I think that in Poland nobody has any doubts this is a bad sign for democracy in Russia. President of Poland Bronislaw Komorowski was fighting for freedom, values freedom, so its difficult for him not to think critically of this kind of situation. Even if he doesn't say anything, the President's critical opinion is an obvious result of his biography and system of values." - Professor Tomasz Nałęcz, Adviser to the Polish President

"The course of Mikhail Khodorkovsky's trial is an evidence of where the rule of law is in Russia. This evidence obviously doesn't look too good? He stressed that Poland and its EU partners "will have a lot more to say on this trial, once we know the final sentence and read its substantiation." - Marcin Bosacki, Spokesman, Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs

"Until Khodorkovsky is freed the world will look on the Russian prime minister as a leader for whom personal vengeance takes precedence over interests of State." - Adam Michnik, chief editor, Polish newspaper Wyborcza

"For Putin, Khodorkovsky is evil personified. He had political ambitions, and Moscow doesn't tolerate that." - Adam Eberhart, Deputy Head of think tank Center for Eastern Studies

Other Comments

"The new trial marks the end of liberals' hopes for political thaw under Dmitri Medvedev's rule. Freeing Russia's most famous political prisoner would have been the first symbol of change." - Wacław Radziwinowicz, Moscow correspondent and commentator

"Khodorkovsky was exceptional, because he was stubborn in his support of democracy and America. And in Russia, that is still a deadly sin. He did not want to ally with the authorities and hoped the world would defend him. He called his charity Open Russia. He hoped to build a civil society." - Marcin Wojciechowski, olitical commentator

"The new trial against [Khodorkovsky] seems like finishing off a defeated enemy....Liberals consider Khodorkovsky's fate as a test for change (or to be more precise, the lack of thereof) within Kremlin." - Tomasz Bielecki, political commentator

"Both the first and second trials are Prime Minister Putin's revenge on a former oligarch and Russia's richest man for criticizing the authorities." - Justyna Prus, political commentator  

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"[Khodorkovsky's conviction] was a worrying signal about the rule of law in Russia. [Canada was troubled by the] alleged lack of a judicial system that operates independently of the Russian government." - Lawrence Cannon, Canada Foreign Affairs Minister  

"The head of Estonia's diplomatic service considers that the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial represents a move away from the principles of a law-governed State in Russia. The international community is closely following what happens next." - Urmas Paet, Estonia Foreign Minister

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"President Mikhail Saakashvili considers the decision of the Russian court to be "laughable", "an insult to justice" and "a violation of all legal norms". This is an example and model of how the Russian authorities persecute people like Khodorkovsky - it is the face of Russian justice today." - Manana Mandjgaladz, Press Secretary of the Georgian President 

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"There is no doubt that this court verdict raises questions about the independence of the judicial power in Russia. We have always stressed the importance of a unified EU foreign policy, which implies coordination of foreign policy. We will state our opinion in the European institutions and believe that it is important for there to be a common view from Europe." - Latvia Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis

Comments On The Conclusion Of The Second Trial

"The sentence is a blow to the rule of law in Russia. Everything about the charges and the trial indicates that the case against him is political." - Rachel Denber, Europe and Central Asia Director, Human Rights Watch

"The Russian authorities' consistent disregard for due process in this trial only strengthens the impression that this second round of convictions has been politically motivated. All evidence points to a pattern of political motives and interference having obstructed justice in this case. The Moscow City Court must overturn this unfair conviction, to restore faith in the independence of Russia's legal system" - Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty International's Director for Europe and Central Asia

"The conviction and sentencing of Mikhail Khodorkovsky on false and absurd charges is disturbing evidence of a return to the ‘bad old days' in Russia. Khodorkovsky is a victim of a political prosecution directed by Vladimir Putin in an effort to punish and silence one of his most fearless and forceful critics. Many of us had high hopes that President Medvedev would take meaningful steps to reverse the decline in respect for human rights and the rule of law that has been so evident in Russia in recent years. Unfortunately the outcome of the Khodorkovsky trial has dashed those hopes. The Lantos Foundation calls on governments, human rights organizations, and individuals around the world speak up against this legal travesty. Putin needs to know that while he may be able to control the Russian judiciary, he cannot protect himself from being properly convicted in the court of public opinion for this clear abuse of power. The verdict of history will find that Mikhail Khodorkovsky was a man who came to recognize the inestimable value of true democracy, human rights, and transparency, and he was willing to put his freedom and his life on the line to defend these values. As for Vladimir Putin, unless he changes course, his reputation and legacy-like those of others before him-will be found on the ash heap of history." - Katrina Lantos Swett, President, Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice

"He [Mikhail Khodorkovsky] is not just an ordinary prisoner but a dissident worthy of his predecessors. Any sign of solidarity from the international community will confirm that this is a fight that is just, necessary, and sooner or later will help lead to democratic change in Russia. We Poles, lawyers, journalists, scientists, students, NGO activists, are of the opinion that Russia can not be a free and democratic country as long as people are jailed for their views opposition to the ruling power." - Adam Bodnar, Secretary, Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights

"Russia must overturn unfair conviction of Khodorkovsky!" - Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International

Other Comments

"The Kremlin has sent two messages with the Khodorkovsky prosecution and the first is that the Kremlin is going to play a role in determining the fate of the country's natural resources like oil and the second is a warning to businessmen to curb their political ambitions." - Allison Gill, Advisor to the Europe and Central Asia division, Human Rights Watch

"Mr. Obama also should ask that Mr. Medvedev order renewed investigations of the Politkovskaya and Markelov cases and ask for the release of Mr. Khodorkovsky. These measures would be a strong signal to the United States, to the Western business community and to the Russian people that a clean break with the lawless past is under way and that Russia may be joining the community of civilized nations." - Ariel Cohen, Senior Research Fellow, Heritage Foundation

"Leading Russian officials speak openly about what they expect the Americans to offer in order to set things right. Rarely, however, do they ever say what Russia should be willing to offer, what concessions the Kremlin could make to show the world that the hope of warmer relations and democratization is not just another illusion. Here's one suggestion. Free Khodorkovsky now." - Natan Sharansky, Author and democracy advocate, Chairman, Jewish Agency for Israel

"In advance of 2008, if Mr. Putin was looking to improve his legacy - and I am under no illusion that he is - he might consider three moves. He should release Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the jailed oligarch, bury Lenin and invite the Pope. Each move would erase a dark shadow of Russia's history. The first would close the book on the vicious power struggles of the past decade. Mr. Khodorkovsky is accused of evading taxes but his exile in Siberia has made him a prisoner of conscience." - Mark Medish, Vice President, the Carnegie Foundation for International Peace