• Mikhail Khodorkovsky
  • Platon Lebedev

We declare that the most flagrant violations of fundamental constitutional rights and lawful interests have been allowed in relation to M.B. Khodorkovsky and P.L. Lebedev, which rule out the possibility of a fair examination and resolution of the case.

Click to read the defense’s full stay motion.

Khodorkovsky is known to the world for his commitment to transparency and corporate governance in business as well as his contributions to the development of civil society in Russia. He is Russia's most famous political prisoner.

Learn more about Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Yukos Affair Timeline

"I believe in Russia's future, and this also includes Russia's judicial system. I try to help the judicial system to become qualified, independent and impartial... We have an opportunity to set things right so that no one will ever feel ashamed of our country."

Platon Lebedev
5 Oct 2007

Platon Lebedev, was Director of Group MENATEP Limited, the holding company for YUKOS. Trained as an industrial economist, Lebedev pioneered modern business practices.

Learn more about Platon Lebedev

Yukos Affair Timeline

Top Stories

  • MBK - Thinking

    How Change Can Come from Status Quo

    5 Feb 2010 | Khodorkovsky and Lebedev Communications Center

    James Kimer discusses political reform in Russia and changing perceptions of Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

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  • Building

    Russia’s Civil Unrest about More than Economy

    3 Feb 2010 | James Kimer, Commentator

    Following the sudden and unexpected large protest in Kaliningrad, the Russian people are becoming exhausted of having two leaders to be responsible for two different ideas of Russia inside just one country, and this is leading to the publically expressed frustration which now, with Kaliningrad, has become a very serious matter for the government to deal with.

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  • MBK/PLL bars

    Kremlin Takes its Revenge on the Oligarchs

    1 Feb 2010 | The Independent

    In a comment for The Independent, Shaun Walker writes that Mikhail Khodorkovsky's second criminal trial has already lasted nearly a year. But his real “crime” is to have crossed Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

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  • Globe

    Drawing the Court Exhibition Comes to European Parliament

    29 Jan 2010 | Khodorkovsky and Lebedev Communications Center

    On February 2, MEP Graham Watson and MEP Kristiina Ojuland will host the opening of the exhibition Sketches of "(in)justice - Drawing the Court: The trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev" in the European Parliament.

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  • MBK - Thinking

    A Time and a Place for Russia

    28 Jan 2010 | International Herald Tribune

    In an opinion editorial for The New York Times, Mikhail Khodorkovsky comments that in Russia today there is no real parliament, independent judiciary, freedom of speech or effective civil society.

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More News

Events

On February 2, more than a hundred people, including European Parliament members, Russian politicians, European institution officials, human rights activists and artists, attended the opening of the exhibition "Sketches of (in)justice" in the European Parliament.

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What Others are Saying

"I really doubt it is a fair trial with truly independent judges and prosecution that will take everything into consideration that may exonerate a defendant."

Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, German Federal Justice Minister

"This trial seems Kafka-esque, Khodorkovsky never had a chance to defend himself in a fair trial, his rights as a human are not respected."

Herve Mariton MP, French-Russia Parliamentary Group Head

"I want trials like this to be a part of Russia’s past. If Russia wants to be a part of the economic, international and political community, it needs to comply with the rule of law. It needs to respect human rights. And it must not have politically motivated trials like this one."

Gisela Stuart MP, UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee Member, Transatlantic and International Security Chair