Russian Opinion Leaders Reflect on the Country's Court System
Following Mikhail Khodorkovsky's article "Legalized Abuse" published yesterday in Nezavisimaya Gazeta, several opinion leaders in Russia expressed their support for Khodorkovsky:
Victor Iliukhin, a State Duma deputy, comments: "They [the government] are not punishing Khodorkovsky, they are taking a revenge on him. I agree with Mikhail Khodorkovsky - there is no real court system in Russia. This system is not independent, and its rulings are not lawful."
Vladimir Ryzhkov, a leading opposition politician, added that the Russian police, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the court system, the prosecutors and the prison authorities all amount to one large apparatus: "It is one punishment machine that can target any person, at a rival's order or an order from the top, fake a case against him, convict, and send him to prison. This machine forces gifted people out of the country; those who stay do not engage into innovations or business - any businessman is aware [his possessions] may be taken away anytime."