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Latest update: 28/12/2010
- fraud - justice - trial
Russian court convicts anti-Putin oil tycoon in second trial
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of Russia’s largest oil company and once its richest man, was found guilty of new charges on Tuesday. His supporters say his real crime was daring to oppose the country’s prime minister, Vladimir Putin.
Former oil tycoon and billionaire Mihkail Khodorkovsky, nearing the end of a first sentence of hard labour at a Siberian prison camp, was again found guilty Monday by a judge deliberating on new charges of theft and money laundering at a second trial. Khodorkovsky’s main associate, Platon Lebedev, was also convicted.
The entire case has been called by many a personal vendetta by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, Russia’s most powerful politician, against a once-potential rival. Writing in the Russian daily "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" on Friday, Russia’s most famous prisoner called Putin “pitiful but dangerous”.
Hard labour
The former boss of Russia’s oil company Yukos has been on a second trial since March 2009, charged with embezzling 218 millions tonnes of oil from his own company. He had already been serving a sentence of eight years hard labour in Siberia, 6000 kilometers from Moscow, for fraud and tax evasion. For the new charges, the prosecution requested an additional 14 years. The court’s full verdict and sentence are expected to be announced over the next few days.
Khodorkovsky's fall goes back to 25 October 2003, when secret police arrested him at a Siberian airport. His company, Yukos-Menatep, built opportunely on the ruins of the Soviet empire, was then at its peak. At the time, it produced more oil than Qatar.
The reason for Khodorkovsky’s arrest, according to his supporters, was his stance against the expanding powers of Vladimir Putin, elected president of the Russian Federation in 2000. Khodorkovsky's mother, Maria, believes that the former president and current prime minister of Russia is behind her son’s misfortunes. "It was the fear of facing someone who has the capabilities of a leader, someone who is capable of uniting society,” that motivated his arrest, she told FRANCE 24 in 2009.
In Putin’s crosshairs
And for good reason: Khodorkovsky had been involved in more than oil. At the time, he began to fund opposition parties, launched an anti-corruption crusade, and called for the privatization of some pipelines – initiatives that were very unpopular with the government.
Anxious to restore state control over the country’s lucrative oil assets, mark its authority and curb the political ambitions of a rich and powerful opponent, the Kremlin did not take long to respond. A judicial and fiscal campaign led to the dismantling of Yukos in 2003 – to the benefit of some close to power – and a sentence of eight years of hard labor for its head.
"Khodorkovsky is in jail because some oligarchs should be in jail: one has to show the new rules of the game," the pro-Kremlin member of parliament Sergei Markov told FRANCE 24 in 2009. Putin repeated this justification on Russian television on December 16. Khodorkovsky was "in jail" because "every thief should go to jail," he said, stating that his "crimes" had been "proved by the court”. Khodorkovsky’s defence and international NGOs immediately accused Putin of interference with the trial.
But faced with such an opponent, Khodorkovsky has not bowed. “The love of dogs is the only sincere and kind sentiment running through his icy armour,” he wrote undauntedly in the Russian daily "Nezavisimaya Gazeta", describing PM Vladimir Putin.
"Just look at the images of his second trial: he’s not broken, he’s dignified and stands with great elegance and courage,” Cecile Vaissié, professor at the University of Rennes and specialist on Russia’s intellectual world, told FRANCE 24.
Obama’s call
While Russian public opinion showed limited sympathy for the former billionaire at the time of his arrest, the mood has changed among some segments of society.
“Intellectuals, well-known writers, journalists and lawyers have stood up to denounce Putin's personal vendetta,” says Vaissié.
Amid the Western chorus of protests, the former oil tycoon has also attracted the attention of US President Barack Obama. Last July he said the "bizarre" new charges against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev came "years after their imprisonment and at a time when they could have been pardoned."
For many observers, the verdict of the trial was a foregone conclusion – and one that calls into question the credibility of Russia’s legal system.
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Comments (26)
comments on facts and publications
READING IN A NEW PUBLICATION " PUTIN - MAN WITHOUT A FACE " MOST AMAZING .STATED IN CONCLUSION. FOR A MAN WHO ENTERED OFFICE WITH NEXT TO NOTHING.HIS REPUTED NET WORTH NOW IS IN EXCESS OF 40 BILLION . NIFTY BIT OF SMALL CHANGE.
YELTSEN WENT OUT WITH SOMETHING LIKE 30 MILLION , A SWISS VILLA , SEVERAL LUXURY YATCHS AND OTHER FASHIONABLE PERKS. NOT TO SHABBY FOR A MAN WHO USED TO HAVE HIS WIFE WAIT IN FOOD LINES . SORT OF A CONFLICT OF IDENTIFICATIONS I WOULD THINK .
ANYWAY IT PRESENTS AN EYESORE AS TO HOW THINGS ARE DONE AND REALLY WORK IN RUSSIA. RUSSIA TODAY !!!!!!!!!!!
rule of force
I suppose this trial is not only test of maturity of civil society in Russia; it is also test of maturity of western society. Are western countries ready to accept this trial – in exchange of some preferences that, no doubt about it, would be proposed individually to western governments by Putin, or there are some principles which are not only words and which are worth being protected and fighting for?
Rule of force, fraud and corruption that flow in dirty money from Russia is not an imaginary threat; this contaminates western companies and political institutes and, therefore, threatens the fundamental of Western society. It is not an innocent game; it is a cancer which begins subtle.
Dis-arming between USA & Russia
The dis-arming pact between Obama & Russia Pres only limits USA. Putin rules Russia.
Pitying Billionaires and Other Luxuries
I don't know why anyone can feel sorry for this man, after all, he was one of several oligarchs who backed Yeltsin and brought him into power for the second time through their media outlets and Yeltsin ended up giving seven men the mineral and industrial wealth of Russia, so former used car salesmen and this guy who used to repair and sell second-hand computers, ended up being worth 100 billion. So he's not exactly clean when you think it takes somebody 40 years of work just to pay off their mortgage. I wouldn't feel too sorry for him. I'm sure he has enough stashed away in Switzerland for his homecoming
the truth
never did trust the ruskies and never will.
Palin
Watch out Sarah.
Putin
What a suprise - KGB/Commissar Putin a dictator !
Oil tycoon opposed Putin
What, no comments? Everyone afraid of Commie Putty? Afraid of being offed to a Siberian prison camp?
For some reason I rather like
For some reason I rather like Putin. There is no comparison between Putin and our little boy obama, Putin is a man.
The truth be told Khodorkovsky got his start by being corrupt and making deals with corrupt government officals, so why feel bad?
Ouch
Hard labor in a Siberian Camp-wow it doesn't get any worse than that!
Do not oppose Putin. Putin will break you.
President Khodorkovsky
Soon! Eventually Mikhail Khodorkovsky will be President at which time Justice and Social Justice will prevail in Russia. Oh yea, almost forgot, Opportunity too.
Same in USA
Same thing is going on in the US. If you oppose EL Duce (BHO), you face visits from his brown shirts - The IRS.
If you are a DNC donor or elected official, you don't have to pay taxes. Need proof? Tim Geitner and half of the other Dem congressional staff.
If you are with the SEIU or the labor union, Pelosi, Reid, and El Duce will steer billions your way. If you oppose them, your going down.
All the Chrystler dealerships that closed as part of the Government Motors bailout - the one that got closed down well all Republican donors.
The US is now no better than any other dictator controlled communist country.
This shows the dangers of a
This shows the dangers of a country governed by one man versus one governed by laws. For some reason the Russians refuse to learn from their history and keep putting tyrannical strongmen into power over and over again. Putin could turn into another dictator for Russia very easily.
Court convicts Putin adversary
Hey, I thought that only happened here in Amerika to anyone apposing hussein obama or his minions.
Putin the KGB
Putin's a billionaire now, all of a sudden. Must have a good pay and benefits package......as a public servant!
oil tycoon
Why would any one be shocked knowing that Putin is the "modern day tsar" controlling Russia's socio/political dynamics.
This is thug helped run the now defunct KGB, and now has escalated himself in to a world leader who now has more clout "PERSUADING" our own politicans votes on inane treaties like START. The tragedy lies in the fact that we as citizens in this country who may share a majority opinion, don't have the clout to get these same politicans to repeal/enact bills, laws and such.
I guess that means "caviar" has more appeal to our politicians than abiding by Constitutionality.
oil tycoon
Why would any one be shocked knowing that Putin is the "modern day tsar" controlling Russia's socio/political dynamics.
This is thug helped run the now defunct KGB, and now has escalated himself in to a world leader who now has more clout "PERSUADING" our own politicans votes on inane treaties like START. The tragedy lies in the fact that we as citizens in this country who may share a majority opinion, don't have the clout to get these same politicans to repeal/enact bills, laws and such.
I guess that means "caviar" has more appeal to our politicians than abiding by Constitutionality.
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev
Undeniably he has 1)talent, 2)leadership, and 3)Charisma.
Undeniably Putin has reason to fear any challengers. Putin has the same qualities so maybe we (USA) could swap Khodorkovsky and Lebedev for hanky panky Bernanke and Geither. I think we could use some fresh ideas and leadership on jump starting the manufacturing base of this economy without constantly throwing money down the rabbit hole. Just my thought.
Western media distortions
This story has not been honestly told. This is why western media is on it's last legs. The young generations are rejecting western media and using the new free press, the internet. Google this story and find out the rest of the story.
The Khodorkovsky verdict was
The Khodorkovsky verdict was a foregone conclusion...and I can't think of a soul who would be surprised at the outcome. With the National Government taking more control of private citizen's lives it will not be long before a similar conclusion can be reached in the United States...
Russian legal system
This verdict shows that any Russian legal contract or business agreement is not worth the paper it is written on. EU and everybody else should start charging the Russians loan shark interest rates for loans.
Khodorkovsky's conviction
I love the last line of this article. It mentions the credibility of Russia's legal system. What legal system? Russia still does not even have any land ownership laws. This is the basis of a free society. Money and power rule in Russia. Courts don't.
Guilty!!!
Khodorkovsky is certainly guilty......of opposing Putin. How naive as to believe Russia's present would be any different from its past. At one time Putin headed up the KGB. Why should anyone expect this egomaniac would change? Putin opposed the fall of the iron curtain. While he says Russia is a democracy, they follow soviet union voting rules.
What Has Changed in Russia ?
Russia STILL has a totalitarian dictator, a communist government and NOTHING has changed. WHY is the USA stupidly dis-arming? Everything is the same INCLUDING the COLD WAR! Russian dictators still want total domination of their own country AND the world.
Wow
In Russia if you go against the expanding powers of the government they can just throw you in a work camp! You can take the nation's richest man and just throw him in prison because he spoke up against the chosen one. I wonder how many progressive liberals heads almost came apart from the smile the idea of that put on their face.
Russian Courts
If the decision of the courts was a 'not guilty' verdict, then there would have been shock waves around the world!! Regretably everyone knew what the answer would be. The great loser is Russian democracy and the transparency and independence of the Russian legal system. Putin has taken Russia back towards the evil days of the Stalin regime.
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