Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Gleb Pavlovsky, head of the Foundation for Effective Politics, who is believed to be the originator of "The Putin Phenomena," said that YUKOS' destruction sent mixed messages to the Russian business community.

Pavlovsky said: "Although few in the business community favoured YUKOS leaders, many were scared of being arrested. In particular, it was sad to see that the law enforcement authorities have been allowed to give themselves power to decide anyone's fate." He added that a concept to "frighten the business" was then introduced, and an epoch of "commercial siloviki" [law enforcement] began.