After Meshchansky Court announced the guilty verdict against Mikhail Khodorkovsky on May 31, 2005, his defense team began the task of filing the appeal.

"I do not admit guilt, and consider that my innocence has been proven. This is why I will appeal the sentence handed down to me today. For me, it is a fundamental matter of principle to attain truth and justice in my Motherland… I have done my duty before my country: I have remained here and lost everything. Please do yours."