Western Politicians Sign Open Letter Pleading for End to Khodorkovsky "Persecution"

14 Dec 2010
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev Communications Center

 

In an open letter, a group of over 50 leading western politicians and human rights advocates have urged President Dmitry Medvedev to "end the persecution" of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev.

Separately, former UK Foreign Minister, Sir Malcolm Rifkind told The Financial Times that Khodorkovsky had been in prison so long it was "hard to believe his continued imprisonment is the consequence of an independent legal proceeding" but instead was "the consequence of a political decision by the president or the prime minister" to keep him behind bars. The Khodorkovsky-Lebedev case, remarks The Financial Times, is being closely watched as a test of whether President Medvedev is capable of making the court system independent and forging a separate path to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, whose power as the theoretically more junior prime minister is still seen as eclipsing his

The full text of the letter published in The Financial Times and Le Monde:

Letter to President Medvedev

His Excellency Dmitry Medvedev
President of the Russian Federation

Dear Mr. President

We, the undersigned, believe that Russia can and should be a positive force in shaping the development of our increasingly interconnected world. As a major global power, a bridge between East and West and a country with a long and proud history in virtually every field of human endeavour, Russia can exert tremendous positive influence on the world of tomorrow.

You have in your words demonstrated your understanding that Russia's place in the world depends in large part upon her robust respect for the rule of law and citizens' fundamental human rights. As such, we believe that the conduct of the cases by the Russian judicial institutions of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Platon Lebedev, as well as investigating of the deaths of Sergey Magnitsky, Anna Politkovskaya, Natalya Estemirova, Stanislav Markelov and many others that seek justice in their own home country are of seminal importance in shaping the views of the outside world on Russia's respect for the rule of law.

Actions are now possible to demonstrate that Russia is truly a regime of law today. The proceedings against Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev, spun out over seven years have been of particular concern to us. The consensus of respected objective observers is that their ongoing persecution is unjust and not truly motivated by law. This has shaken confidence in the Russian legal system and in your strong will to uphold the Russian Constitution. We therefore hope that the manner in which the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev case is decided will strictly adhere to the principles of the rule of law, as enshrined in the Russian Constitution.

As strong supporters of the drive to modernise Russia we cannot stand idly by when rule of law and human values are being so openly abused and compromised. Stable and reliable partnerships with Russia can exist only where our fundamental common values, are shared and applied: where human rights are protected, property rights are secure, and justice prevails over corruption. Ending the persecution of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Platon Lebedev and others related to the Yukos Affair, and finding justice for Sergey Magnitsky, Anna Politkovskaya, Natalya Estemirova, Stanislav Markelov and many other victims that seek justice in Russia, would send positive signals of change and show that Russia is indeed on the path towards modernisation. The world is watching very closely the outcomes of these cases on which so much rests for enhancing confidence in your great country.

Sincerely,

UK

  • Rt Hon David Miliband MP, Former Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (2007-2010)
  • Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, Former Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1995-1997)
  • Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell MP, Former Leader of the Liberal Democrats UK (2006-2007) & former Foreign Affairs spokesperson (1997-2006)
  • Richard Ottaway MP, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee
  • Chris Bryant MP, Former Minister for Europe (2009-2010) and Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Russia Group
  • Terry Gilliam, Screenwriter, film director, animator and actor

France

  • Bernard Kouchner, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs (2007-2010)
  • Hubert Vedrine, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs (1997-2002)
  • Noëlle Lenoir, Former Minister of European Affairs (2002-2004), former member of the French Constitutional Court
  • Jack Lang, Former Minister of Culture, former Minister of Education, Member of French Parliament (PS)
  • Galia Ackermann, Chief Editor of the Russian Service of Radio France International
  • Andre Glucksmann - Academic, writer and philosopher
  • Hervé Mariton, Former Minister of "outre-mer" (2007), MP, member of the UMP (majority party), President of the French-Russian friendship parliamentary Group

Germany

  • Markus Löning, Human Rights Commissioner to the German Government (2010- )
  • Michael Link, Liberal Party (FDP), Spokesperson for European Politics within the German Federal Parliament
  • Ute Granold, Conservative Party (CDU), Member of the Committee on Human Rights within the German Federal Parliament
  • Dr. Ludolf von Wartenberg, former member of the presidential board of the Federation of German Industries (1990-2006)
  • Klaus Naumann, Retired German General, former Chief of Staff of the Bundeswehr
  • Marina Schuster, Liberal Party (FDP), Spokesperson for Human Rights and Member of the Committee on Human Rights within the German Federal Parliament

European Parliament

  • Kristiina Ojuland MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - Estonia), former Foreign Minister of Estonia (2002-2005)
  • Heidi Hautala MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Finland), Chairwoman of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights
  • Werner Schulz MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Germany), Vice-Chair Delegation to the EU-Russia Parliamentary Co-operation Committee
  • Graham Watson MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe - UK), former Leader of the European Parliament's Liberal Democrat group
  • Rebecca Harms MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance - Germany), Co-Chair of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance
  • Tunne Kelam MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe -Estonia) former Vice-President, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
  • Chris Davies MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, UK), former Leader British Liberal Democrat
  • Frieda Brepoels MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance - Belgium) Member of the Committee of Foreign Affairs and Substitute Member in the Subcommittee Committee on Human Rights
  • Indrek Tarand MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance - Estonia); former Chancellor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1994-2002); former adviser to the Prime Minister; former special representative of the Government of the Republic of Estonia in Narva (1993)
  • Bart Staes MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Belgium)
  • George Lyon MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, UK), Deputy Finance Minister, Scottish Government (2005-2007)
  • Renate Weber MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Romania), Former Head of the National Liberal Party delegation
  • Satu Hassi MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance - Finland), Minister for Environment and Development cooperation from April 1999 to May 2002; Chairperson of the Green Parliamentary group 1991-93, 1997 and 2003-2004
  • Franziska Brantner MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, Germany), Member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Cristian Silviu Busoi MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Romania)
  • Sławomir Witold Nitras MEP (Group of the European People's Party -Poland)
  • Catherine Bearder MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, UK)
  • Michael Gahler MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Germany)
  • Marian Harkin MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Ireland)
  • Dirk Sterckx MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Belgium)
  • Michael Theurer MEP (Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Germany)
  • Keith Taylor MEP (Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance, UK)

Italy

  • Hon. Piero Fassino, Responsible for Foreign affairs of the Partito Democratico and former Minister of the Republic (Undersecretary of State for Foreign affairs in 1996, Minister of International trade in 1998 and Minister of Justice in 2001)
  • Hon. Roberto Rao, Union of Centre-Democrats Party
  • Hon. Ferdinando Adornato, Union of Centre-Democrats Party

USA

  • Richard V. Allen, Former United States National Security Advisor (1981-1982)
  • Leon Aron, American Enterprise Institute
  • Robert Arsenault, International League for Human Rights (1998-)
  • Julie Finley, Former U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE (2005-2009)
  • Felice Gaer & Jacob Blaustein Institute for Human Rights (2001-)
  • Peter D Hannaford, Long-time associate of the late President Ronald Reagan
  • James Harmon, Chairman, Harmon & Co., LLC, former President of the Export
  • Import Bank, United States (1997-2001)
  • Arthur Hartman, Former US Ambassador to France (1977 - 1981) and Soviet Union (1981 - 1987)
  • David J. Kramer, Executive Director, Freedom House, Washington, DC
  • Katrina Lantos Swett, Tom Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice
  • Eugene K. Lawson, Co-founder, US-Russia Business Council (1993-)
  • James P. Moore, Jr., Former United States Assistant Secretary of Commerce (1987-88)
  • Bill Richardson, Governor of New Mexico, former US Ambassador to the UN (1997-1998) and Energy Secretary (1998-2000)
  • Richard Schiff, Actor
  • Richard N. Swett, Former US ambassador to Denmark (1998-2001) and former U.S. Congressman (1990-1994)
  • Georges Ugeux, Chairman & CEO, Galileo Global Advisors LLC, former head International Group of the New York Stock Exchange

The Netherlands

  • Laurens Jan Brinkhorst, D66 Dutch politician, former undersecretary of state of foreign affairs and a minister of agriculture

Israel

  • Shimon Stein, former Israeli Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany (2001-2007)