“I consider Mikhail Khodorkovsky to be political prisoner”

Sergey Kovalev, former political prisoner
October 31, 2005
Novie Izvestia

Sergey Kovalev, chairman of the Russian human rights organization “Memorial,” spoke on the status of political repression in Russia today. Mr. Kovalev is a former political prisoner and, in 1991, was on the list maintained by the State Committee of Emergency Situation of those scheduled to be executed.

- In your opinion are there political prisoners in Russia?

Kovalev: I consider Mikhail Khodorkovsky to be a political prisoner. As a matter of fact I am aware of accusations that were knowingly fabricated in his case. And in fact a political prisoner is not necessarily someone who is targeted for resisting authority. A political prisoner is someone in whose case political motivation turned out to be a crucial factor.

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