European Parliament Human Rights Subcommittee Delegation Visits Trial
On August 31, three members of the European Parliament's Subcommittee of Human Rights visited the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial as part of a 5 day trip to Russia.
Statement from the Subcommittee's Delegation:
The European Parliament Subcommittee of Human Rights delegation to Russia visited the trial of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev today.
The members of the delegation, Ms. Heidi Hautala, Chair of European Parliament Subcommittee, Ms. Laima Andrekiene, Vice-Chair of the Subcommittee and Thijs Berman, member of the Subcommittee, expressed great alarm over the reported irregularities of the trial and the arbitrary nature of Messrs. Khodorkovsky and Lebedev's treatment.
The delegation remains committed to monitoring the case at the European Parliament and intends to raise this case and its implications for the rule of law in Russia once the Parliament considers the EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
The delegation further recalls that any proposed initiatives for modernization by the Russian President Medvedev cannot succeed without rigorously developing the rule of law.
Speaking to the Khodorkovsky and Lebedev Communications Center outside the courthouse, Hautala noted that the European Union has followed the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial very closely. She said: "The European Parliament has a duty to see that Russia follows the rule of law and we have serious doubts after seeing the political character of this court case."
The deputy's meeting with Khodorkovsky trial participants on Tuesday yielded a public statement by defense witness Vladimir Perevezin that authorities offered him softer conditions in prison if he testified against the fallen oligarch. Hautula noted: "It was brave of him to do this." She added: "The delegation...recalls that any proposed initiatives for modernization by the Russian President Medvedev cannot succeed without rigorously developing the rule of law," in reference to an EU project to export new technology to Russia.
Speaking about today's witness, Hautala said: "It is totally unacceptable that the prosecution would put such pressure on a witness." Berman noted: "I hope that the judicial system in Russia is capable of taking this very seriously."