- 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.
- Current Legal Status: On Trial
- Incarcerated: Matrosskaya Tishina Detention Facility
- Latest Statement: Khodorkovsky to Putin: You Owe Me Answers
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.
"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."
- Current Legal Status: On Trial
- Incarcerated: Matrosskaya Tishina Detention Facility
- Latest Statement: Lebedev Court Statement on the Essence of the Charges: April 21, 2009
Platon Lebedev, was Director of Group MENATEP Limited, the holding company for YUKOS. Trained as an industrial economist, Lebedev pioneered modern business practices.
Top Stories
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Rosneft Gets Bruised by Yukos
The once-small state-owned oil company Rosneft, which overnight rocketed itself into the role of a global oil player and Russia's biggest producer, has found that some problems with their tricky acquisition of Yukos assets are coming home to roost.
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Decorative Due Process and Adaptive Legal Nihilism
Legal nihilism in Russia is an adaptive animal, exemplified by the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial. After seven years of blatant Kremlin injustice, state prosecutors have refined their ability to hold convincing show trials.
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Khodorkovsky to Putin: You Owe Me Answers
Speaking to the Independent today, Mikhail Khodorkovsky calls on Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to answer key questions as a witness in court.
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The Ebb and Flow of State Dept Criticism of Russian Human Rights
According to the US State Department, Russia's electoral process and human rights record leaves much to be desired. In particular, events such as the death of Sergei Magnitsky and the Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial highlight the abuses of trial procedures and political imprisonment.
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MEMORIAL Germany: In Joint Support of Justice and Democracy
The Khodorkovsky case is turning into a “judicial farce”, according to Ulrike Mattfeldt, board member of MEMORIAL Germany. In an exclusive oped for the Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center, Mattfeld describes the countless cases of a lack of human rights in Russia, taken on by MEMORIAL.
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- Global Issues
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Russian Activist Takes Less Traveled Road In Fight For Civil Rights
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty profiles Russian human rights defender Vyacheslav Lysakov.
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Police Brutality in Russia: Cops for Hire
The Economist comments that Russia’s police officers shoot, beat and torture civilians, confiscate businesses and take hostages; they are feared and distruste... Read More »
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YUKOS Wins Rulings in Its Rosneft Battle
Managers of YUKOS have won injunctions in US and British courts seeking the seizure of property from Rosneft, indicating that YUKOS’ legal battle against the ... Read More »
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UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office Human Rights Report 2009-- Russian Evaluations
On March 17th, the UK Foreign Secretary (Rt Hon David Miliband MP) launched the 2009 Annual Report on Human Rights. It was with little surprise that Russia was ... Read More »
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Putin Vexes US over Iran Nuclear Power
As Secretary of State Clinton visited Moscow to negotiate the conclusion of the START nuclear disarmament treaty, Moscow promised to help Iran complete its civi... Read More »
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Trial Exhibition To Be Launched In Moscow
The Trial, a multimedia exhibition to be launched on March 26 in Central Moscow, features paintings by artist Alexey Kotlyarov on the absurd and boring atmosphe... Read More »
From the Communications Center
Events

The Alternative France-Russia Year 2010 launched its new website providing information on the year-long schedule of events. The campaign, supported by leading French and Russian rights groups, aims to make sure that no one forgets that it is simply unacceptable to hide the rights abuses in Russia today - symbolized most dramatically by Khodorkovsky and Lebedev's current show trial.
What Others are Saying
We welcome your comments on the monthly Khodorkovsky and Lebedev Communications Center Newsletter.
See previous newsletters here
"Symbolizing all that is wrong with the Russian system is the current trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his former partner, Platon Lebedev, who ran the Yukos Oil Company. The absurd charges against them—for example, embezzling 350 million tons of oil--are an attack on the fundamental right of individuals to own property under law. As this is the second trial for both men, it is a palpable judicial farce."
Stephen Blank, Professor, Strategic Studies Institute of the U.S. Army
Malcolm Bruce, UK Liberal Democrat MP



