Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

According to a new Levada Center poll, a quarter of Russians said they would release Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev if the decision lay with them.

Among other findings:

• Almost two thirds (63%) of Russian citizens continue to believe that the bankruptcy of YUKOS and sale of its assets benefitted a group of businessmen closely linked to the regime and highly-placed State and government officials.
• The authorities are putting pressure on the court during the present Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial, say 41%, to secure a new conviction.
• Only 7% of those interviewed are convinced that ordinary people in Russia have benefitted from the arrest of the Yukos executives.