Khodorkovsky’s and Lebedev’s defence team decided to resume their review of the case files in Chita. The lawyers were reluctant to reach such a decision and point out that “in a situation of total legal nihilism” they simply had no choice.

In accordance with the rulings delivered by the Basmanny and Moscow city courts all the investigations concerning Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, including the review of the case files for their lawyers, must be held in Moscow. However, the investigating team is ignoring the court rulings and insists that the place for the investigations is Chita city.

Taking account of the total illegality of the proceedings in Chita, Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s and Platon Lebedev’s lawyers are concerned that their refusal to review the case files in Chita will be used against their clients and that the case will be immediately taken to court. The defence’s statement reads: “Realisation of all the negative implications stemming from the fact that a person unfamiliar with the file in his own case may be tried, forces us to continue the review of the case file in Chita and provide our client with the appropriate advice. At the same time, the prosecution takes full responsibility for the illegality of the current situation.”


For information and comments:


Khodorkovsky and Lebedev Press center– www.khodorkovsky.ru, info@khodorkovsky.ru,

call +7 (495) 364-3333

Lawyer Yuri Schmidt (M. Khodorkovsky’s defence team)

Lawyer Elena Liptser (P. Lebedev’s defence team)