History is replete with tales of those whose enlightened view of the world became their ultimate undoing. It happened in the early 1400s to John Wycliffe who disregarded papal opposition and translated the Bible into the language of ordinary Englishmen. Wycliffe died of a stroke before he could be charged with heresy and burned at the stake, but that did not prevent a trial and conviction years later that resulted in his unearthed bones being cast into the River Swift. Unfortunately, two similar tales are playing out today in modern Russia, and we can only hope that the endings will be vastly different.
The first tale resurrected just last week when we learned that the Russian Ministry of Interior intends to put on trial the "bones" of Sergei Magnitsky, who suspiciously died in custody two years ago after he testified that Ministry officials embezzled $230 million dollars. This bizarre saga will break new ground as the first posthumous prosecution in Russian legal history. For those interested in rule of law, this is a particularly outrageous example of the "legal nihilism" that President Medvedev at first decried but has since accepted.
The second tale began in 2003 with the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and continues today as the most high profile example of Russian judicial corruption. Khodorkovsky took advantage of the chaotic "wild, wild east" period following the collapse of communism to build Yukos Oil Company into one of the most profitable businesses in Russia. Yet in the inverted world of Russian justice, adherence to such unorthodox standards was not his undoing.
The Kremlin began targeting Khodorkovsky when he applied Western standards to his business practices: bringing in outside Directors, conducting bona fide audits, and paying more taxes than any other private entity in Russia. More worrisome was that Khodorkovsky promoted genuine political opposition and sought to strengthen independent civil society groups. Recognizing the need for Russia to become truly modern, open, and democratic and believing that he could help usher in those changes, Khodorkovsky used his resources to attempt to reform the country he loved. For that lofty ambition, Putin's henchmen set out to destroy him.
Khodorkovsky has since been subjected to two show trials and spent nearly a decade in the Gulag with a sentence of 14 years still ahead. His prosecution has been denounced as politically motivated and a violation of human rights by the Parliamentary Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights, while Amnesty International has declared him a Prisoner of Conscience.
It is my greatest hope that the people of Russia see these two tales come to an honorable end. Compared to Sergei Magnitsky, who paid with his life for daring to expose corruption in Russia, Mikhail is a lucky man. As the refreshing spring winds of reform blow across Red Square, there is renewed hope that this courageous man may one day breathe the air of freedom outside prison walls. And yet, the bizarre announcement of the posthumous trial of Sergei Magnitsky, serves as a chilling reminder that the Russian winter is by no means over.
WATCH: Mikhail Khodorkovsky -- The Man Who Believed He Could Change Russia
Khodorkovsky does not have any property in Russia, neither abroad. His business was lowful and apsolutely transperent. But Putin's propaganda is working.
We are so thankful for your artical about Khodorkovsky. It is very importent to support Prisoners of Conscience: Khodorkovsky, Lebedev and Pichugin. When people of the Word rises their voices for Political Prisoners in Russia- there are more chance for them to be alive.
Anfortunately, translation of you fraze "Khodorkovsky has since been subjected to two show trials and spent nearly a decade in the Gulag with a sentence of 14 years still ahead. His prosecution has been denounced as politically motivated and a violation of human rights by the Parliamentary Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights, while Amnesty International has declared him a Prisoner of Conscience" was incorrect: 14 years being in prison more, above 9 yeasr already been in prison.
Deeply appreciate.
Joseph and Rita,
Detroit, MI
According to Transparency International, Russia is ranked 143 out of 182, and us the mist corrupt industrial country in the world.
http://en.rian.ru/crime/20111201/169195312.html
What else can one say? "Clean up your act, Putin?"
From the protests in the streets, it is clear Russians themselves are sick of being played the fools.
In exchange Russian government made a commitment to turn the blind eye to the methods oligarchs used to get and keep their billions.
Khodorkovsky violated his pledge and lost everything because of it.
To the lasting benefit of the Russian people.
Putin brought Russia back from the chasm.
Let's face it Russia will never be Denmark. But that's a good thing.
This one on fostering child abduction is shocking ...
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harris-silver/russian-democracy-has-a-p_b_1228575.html
Are you being paid to write this? He is partly responsible for all the loopholes in the constitution, because it had been forced through after a coup. Its validity today is still in question.
"More worrisome was that Khodorkovsky promoted genuine political opposition and sought to strengthen independent civil society groups."
He bought two-thirds of the Duma because he did not want to pay taxes. The richest can do whatever the they please, and this is "enlightenment" to you? It does not matter if you like what he did (which probably includes the murder of the the mayor of Nefteyugansk), this is the farthest thing from democracy.
"His prosecution has been denounced as politically motivated and a violation of human rights by the Parliamentary Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights,"
WRONG. The ECHR has said that the trial is not politically motivated.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/8547862/Mikhail-Khodorkovsky-not-a-political-prisoner-Human-Rights-court-rules.html
This man has millions (billions?) hidden away that were stolen from the Russian people so he can continue paying for the finest publicity campaign. Are you receiving any of this?
And on those grounds, the reason he is in jail and not Putin would be what?
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2012/02/momcoms-mass-suicide-murder-pact.html