On 16 April at 10.00 hours the Criminal Judicial Division of the Russian Supreme Court (fifth bench) will consider the defence team’s appeal on a point of law against the extension of Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s detention in custody to 2 May.

Throughout 2007 the custodial detention of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev has been meticulously extended by the Ingodinsky District Court. It is, however, beyond the powers of a district court to remand an accused person to the pre-trial detention facility for a period exceeding one year. The sanction of a higher court is needed and this was duly granted on 30 January 2008 by the Chita Regional Court. Because the matter was initially approved at a higher level, the instance for appeal is the Supreme Court.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s interests will be represented in the Supreme Court by Attorney Karinna Moskalenko.