Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Russia's president must step out of the shadow of his authoritarian predecessor and uphold the rule of law, according Platon Lebedev. Speaking soon after arriving at a prison camp in Russia's far north where he is to serve out the remainder of his 13-year sentence, Lebedev said he still believed himself to be hostage to the political battle that broke out between the Kremlin and Khodorkovsky in 2003 when Vladimir Putin was president reports The Financial Times. He stated:

"I believe that Medvedev is genuinely trying to improve the rule of law and to boost the independence of the courts. He has the chance to do so...But will he be able to make use of it and will he be allowed to make use of it - that is the question. As president, Medvedev is the guarantor of the constitution, and in connection with this there are absolutely no obligations whatsoever to the former president."

Lebedev was speaking almost eight years to the day since his July 2003 arrest by federal security service agents began a legal onslaught that changed the way Russia was run, sparking a clampdown on political opposition and a state takeover of the commanding heights of the economy.

Mr Lebedev said he was still shocked at how events had unfolded over the past eight years.

"I could not foresee even in my worst nightmare that it was possible to annihilate the best company in the country, brazenly vandalize its assets and commit repressions in relation to its employees and shareholders whilst the whole world watches on. I had thought that Russia was capable of going into the third millennium without dragging its ulcerating sores from the second millennium with it."

Lebedev defiantly said he would never ask for an amnesty. "I did not commit any crimes, so I do not need an amnesty. The ones who need an amnesty are those representatives of power who committed crimes during the destruction of YUKOS on the orders of their bosses."