Khodorkovsky Trial Undermines Rule of Law in Russia
In a comment for The Times, Bronwen Maddox discusses Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's second state-of-the-nation address where he said the right things about Russia's urgent need for reform. But he has said them before and Russia has not reformed.
Medvedev has made modernization his slogan. However, David Clark, Russia analyst and former adviser to Robin Cook and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, says: "Each time he talks of the need for change he highlights the gap between his rhetoric and reality of what is happening to Russia under his presidency."
Clark commented: The "second show trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky" undermines the claim to promote the rule of law. Whilst Medvedev talks about making Russia friendly for business, the country has just pulled out of the Energy Charter Treaty, "one of the few remaining legal protections for foreign investors concerned about property rights."