Khodorkovsky’s defence-team looks for a response to its telegram at least.

On February 15, lawyer Karinna Moskalenko sent a telegram to the Prosecutor-General’s office, drawing Yuri Chaika’s attention to unacceptable violations of Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s and his lawyers’ rights.

The telegram refers specifically to the fact that ‘the illegal transfer to Chita of investigations involving M.B. Khodorkovsky, their consequent extreme remoteness, and the unlimited possibility thereby given the authorities to go through the defense’s confidential papers under the guise of the provision of aircraft security severely compromise the confidentiality of the legal brief and encroach on the right to liberty’.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s defence had to resort to the writing of a telegram after it became clear that Yuri Chaika’s department was intending to ignore a long and detailed statement by Karinna Moskalenko. The telegram spelled out actions designed to intimidate the defence team. The earlier statement was sent to the Prosecutor General’s office on February 8.