Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Over 50,000 people have signed a letter demanding the immediate release of Platon Lebedev and Mikhail Khodorkovsky through their Russian website.

The letter states:

"Freedom for Khodorkovsky and Lebedev!

Platon Lebedev and Mikhail Khodorkovsky underwent a second trial in Moscow.

Those who organised and inspired that travesty of justice decided that the previous 8-year jail sentence and the indelible shame that they caused to the domestic judicial and law-enforcement systems was not enough; they obviously expect to keep their victims behind barbed wire for many more years to come.

Judging by the letter and the intent of the law, Lebedev and Khodorkovsky should have already been released.

We believe that any new verdict against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, even the "mildest" one, will deal a fatal blow to any remaining hope for justice and rule of law in Russia.

This trial was an obvious response to the assurances about "the rule of law" and "independent court". The new Khodorkovsky-Lebedev trial is not the only such case in Russia. But it vividly demonstrates that the authorities can charge anyone with anything at any time.

We demand the termination of the criminal prosecution of M. Khodorkovsky, P. Lebedev and other NK Yukos employees due to the apparently ordered nature of the cases against them.

We demand an immediate release of Platon Leonidovich Lebedev and Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky."

• Click here to add your signature to the letter (in Russian)

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