Other Organizations & Allies

In 2007, the Committee to Free Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev was founded to raise awareness of the unjust persecution of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev by the Russian government. The Committee consists of individuals dedicated to the cause of human rights, and maintains that the treatment of these men is in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.

In October 2008, The International League for Human Rights hosted a briefing of the international defense team for the human rights and NGO community. Watch the video »

In April 2009, the leaders of eight Western human rights groups signed an open letter to President Dmitry Medvedev expressing their concern for the deterioration of respect for rule of law and human rights in Russia in connection with the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial. Signatories of the letter include Amnesty International, Freedom House, Human Rights First, Human Rights Watch, the International League for Human Rights, Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights, and the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice.

On October 29, 2009 more than 900 people attended a concert in Leipzig dedicated to Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. Starring world renowned violinist Gidon Kremer and featuring composer Arvo Pärt’s Symphonie Nr. 4, which debuted in Los Angeles in 2009, the concert raised awareness to political prisoners in Russia, with proceeds benefiting the Podmoskovny Lyceum boarding school. Pärt has since presented his work dedicated to Khodorkovsky across Europe.

Links to other Organizations and Allies:

A wide variety of reputable voices have expressed concern about the case and voiced support for the positive contribution Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were making to Russia prior to their arrest:

"[Khodorkovsky] led the way from 'robber capitalism' to more legitimate capitalism. By cracking down on Mr. Khodorkovsky, the development of legitimate capitalism is now interrupted." George Soros, Philanthropist Chairman of Soros Fund Management, LLC and founder of The Open Society Institute

"[neo-Muscovites] now see Khodorkovsky as the one oligarch who really was the beacon of hope for civil society. He was supporting liberal progressive universities. He was supporting regional politicians, helping to bring them to the West. He was giving a lot of money to charity....And the signal that Putin has sent to the oligarchs is: 'Don't invest in Russia. Don't stay here....'It's precisely the wrong signal, because instead of rewarding Khodorkovsky for what he was trying to do to Russian society, it's essentially saying, '...get out, because the state wants to take control again.'"Angela Stent, Professor
Georgetown University Department of Government

"The Kremlin runs the risk of destroying its petroleum sector rather than building an envied national champion. The tactics employed by the Kremlin to jail Mr. Khodorkovsky, bankrupt YUKOS and capture its best asset demonstrated the imprecision and politicization of the Russian legal system. It frightened both Russian and foreign investors, even if they had no sympathy for Mr. Khodorkovsky." J Robinson West, Chairman and Founder of PFC Energy

"When threatened, Mikhail Khodorkovsky did not flee. He chose to defend himself in Russia. We underestimate this figure and the importance that he can have in his country." Andre Glucksmann, Philosopher and Writer

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