Petition for Parole
On July 16, 2008 Mikhail Khodorkovsky filed a request for parole after having served more than half of his eight-year sentence. On August 22, 2008, a district court in the Siberian city of Chita rejected the parole application, a decision that was upheld by the Chita Regional Court on October 17, 2008. The court ruled that Khodorkovsky's rehabilitation would not be possible without completing his eight-year sentence.
Defense lawyers said the parole application was a test case for new Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who has spoken against the "legal nihilism" that plagues the Russian judicial system. "The judicial system won't be reformed any time soon," Khodorkovsky said as he was led from the courtroom after the decision was read.
In violation of Russian law, the courts rejected Khodorkovsky's request for parole citing his lack of enthusiasm in learning the profession of a sewing machine operator, as well as minor prison violations.
"I cannot repent for crimes that did not exist," Khodorkovsky said later in a statement. "I cannot do this not only because of my belief in the unjustness of the verdict, but also because of my fear for the fate of many other people who have become hostages of the situation related to my conviction."
Khodorkovsky has said that if released he has no plans to return to the Russian oil industry or to seek legal redress for the court rulings against YUKOS.
Under Russian law, a parole application can be resubmitted six months after a court's rejection.
Statement by Mikhail Khodorkovsky on Petition for Parole
Read the full Ingondinsky Court ruling on Khodorkovsky's application for parole »