Khodorkovsky’s supporters put up a table on Revolution Square where people could fill in greetings cards under a banner “Freedom for Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev!”

Passers by approached the table and filled out the cards but the police banned the Khodorkovsky’s local supporters from organising a small fireworks display in his honour.

“The organisers of the picket, passers by and even the police felt nothing but positive emotions as the action came to an end,” commented Vitaly Cherkasov of Radio Liberty. “Not only the local press attended the event but journalists from Bavarian television as well. I counted only four policemen. Marina Savateyeva, who was in charge of today’s picket, suggested this modest presence was due to the large media turnout. At previous events police numbers greatly exceeded those of the protestors.” Radio Liberty’s correspondent was also struck by the well-disposed attitude of Chita’s residents. There was no need to persuade them to join in: “they were happy to fill in the greetings cards, adding various wishes for khodorkovsky.” For the most part these wishes were for Khodorkovsky to be released from the penal colony and reunited with his family so that he might spend his next birthday with them. “Do not be downhearted. ... You’ve been inside quite long enough,” was one sentiment. Another, evidently politically-minded, suggestion was that Mikhail Khodorkovsky become the next president of Russia.

“One can say that the picket passed off peacefully,” concluded Cherkasov. “They have just released a jolly inflatable Misha bear and he has quickly flown away. Everyone thought that the same future, perhaps, awaits Misha Khodorkovsky.”


(From reports by Interfax and Radio Liberty)