Court Concludes Evidentiary Stage in Trial, Closing Arguments Begin October 14
The court concluded today the evidentiary stage in the trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev and announced a two week break in the trial to allow the parties to prepare for the closing arguments. The closing arguments are scheduled to start on October 14, beginning with the prosecution. The defense will follow.
Both Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev and their lawyers have a right under Russian law to participate in the closing arguments. After the closing arguments are concluded, the defendants have a right to address the court with their "last word."
The defense team also released a statement at this stage of the trial:
"When the trial was just beginning, we called it insane proving of insane charges. After a year and a half of this shameful process we can state: the organized group of forgers failed at even insane proving. But, the criminal substance of the charges and the case as whole became obvious to all who haven't lost sight, hearing and conscience. The details will be told during the closing arguments."