Prosecution Asks Court to Extend Khodorkovsky and Lebedev’s Detention for Third Time
During the court hearing on February 9, 2010, the prosecution filed a motion to extend Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev's detention until May 17, 2010.
This is the third such motion - Prosecutor Lakhtin's arguments were similar to the ones heard in the Khamovnicheskiy Court on August 12 and November 10, and today's motion was mostly a copy of the one filed in November. He began by restating the charges brought against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, then moved on to list decisions by the Ingondinskiy Court, in Chita, and the Khamovnicheskiy Court extending their detention in pre-trial custody, and the various appellate decisions affirming the lower courts.
Once again, Prosecutor Lakhtin brought up YUKOS' case with the European Court of Human Rights which he described as an attack against Russia. As he did back in November, Prosecutor Lakhtin argued that the ECHR petition was an attempt to pressure Russia prior to the verdict in the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky's lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant commented on Radio Svoboda that he finds it absurd to think that Khodorkovsky or Lebedev could influence the witnesses in the case as suggested by the prosecutors. He noted: "The people are serving their sentence under the court's ruling. Even theoretically it is impossible to imagine how they could do it. Unfortunately these extensions have become a ritual of lawlessness. They ask to extend it for three months and then for another three months. This petition just has a new date and another portion of lies, based on vague accusations or discrediting statements that have no ground. They are just trying to create the background because they do not have any proof. The prosecutors witness list has 250 names, so far they have called 50 people."
Novaya Gazeta correspondent Vera Schelisheva notes that the testimony of those who have been called to the trial by the prosecution so far have had little relevance to the actual subject of the trial. She says that everyone has a feeling they are being questioned for another case being prepared against the two businessmen.
On February 11, after the defense presents their arguments, the judge will pronounce his ruling on the motion.