but he has started drinking water.

According to Interfax-Siberia, the head of Chita’s detention facility, V. German, had announced that M.B. Khodorkovsky ‘hadn’t announced a dry hunger strike; he drinks water’.

In fact, in the declaration he wrote for the attention of the chief prosecutor, dated 29th January, 2008, M.B. Khodorkovsky only declared the start of his hunger strike but not giving specific details. The hunger strike was actually dry, meaning that he refused both solid and liquid nutrition.

Today he was informed by the head of the detention facility about the improvement of Aleksanyan’s custody conditions. After signing the notice M.B. Khodorkovsky indicated that the hunger strike would continue. He demands that V. Aleksanyan is to have an immediate independent medical examination. M.B. Khodorkovsky also decided to begin drinking water (but not juice, tea, coffee or any other drinks).

(Press centre)