The Khodorkovsky and Lebedev case and Mikhail Khodorkovsky himself were awarded first place for many 2005 nominations by various mass media.

1) “The Verdict of the Year” – Gazeta newspaper (December 28, 2005)

The Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev verdict is the leading nomination for this category. In September the two former businessmen were sentenced to eight years in prison and transferred to colonies far beyond the Moscow region. Khodorkovsky was sent to the Chita region while Lebedev was sent to the Polar Urals in the Yamal-Nenets Peninsula.

2) “Person of the Year” - Vedomosti newspaper (December 29, 2005)

For Mikhail Khodorkovsky year of 2005 was the “point of no return.” He decisively gave up his business life, was given a long term in prison and at last got involved in a political struggle, albeit at the level of filing an application to run for a seat in the State Duma. His bid was ultimately thwarted by the verdict of the Moscow City Court.

Now Khodorkovsky has nothing behind him; no successful company, no large sums of money. He is simply a citizen who is even restricted in his rights. Helping him or just being at his side is considered not to be safe.

3) “Person of the Year” – Sobesednik journal (December 28, 2005)

After surveying a hundred stars and prominent individuals, the Sobesednik weekly journal named Mikhail Khodorkovsky as the person of the year. Second place when to President Vladimir Putin.

4) “Victim of the Year” – Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper (December 29, 2005)

The Mikhail Khodorkovsky case was the highest profile for three reasons. Firstly, it was the highest profile trial in Russia this years and the first time a billionaire went on trial in Russia. Second, the length of the delivery of the verdict set a record for lasting for two weeks. Third, of all the trials open to the public this was certainly the most closed one. The Meshchansky Court vicinity was cordoned off by policeman and in order to get inside the courthouse one had to pass through four Special Forces checkpoints.

5) “Hero of the Year” – Ogonek magazine (December 26, 2005)
Mikhail Khodorkovsky was named hero of the year by Ogonek magazine. His case also won first place for the event, quote and opinion of October 2005.

Event: The logical but still unexpected conclusion of the former Yukos chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s trial, which lasted over a year, resulted in his transfer to the Krasnokamensk penal colony YG 14/10 in the Chita region, 9000 kilometers and 9 time zones away from Moscow.

Quote: “I am in the land of the Decembrists, political convicts and uranium mines. The Kremlin has tried to isolate me completely from the country and the people, and what is more – they have tried to destroy me physically.”

Opinion: Yuri Kalinin, Head of Federal Penitentiary Service: “There were no spots in penitentiary institutions located in Moscow region and within the territory of the ‘Golden ring’ [around Moscow].”

6) ‘Sovok’ of the Year” [Person with Soviet mentality] – Moskovsky Komsomolets (December 29, 2005)

“A number of comrades of culture signed a strange letter against Khodorkovsky. Well-learned lessons of socialism instruct that support and approval of the party line is aimed at gaining all kinds of benefits or various merits. For example, one signs a letter and then 20 extra square meters are added to one’s apartment in addition to received the rank of ‘Honored Worker of Culture.’ Now, for a signature against a rich oligarch one can receive in return a seat in the State Duma or acquire a whole theatre. To be fair, it should be noted that the letter against Khodorkovsky with the signatures of fifty individuals was not signed by everyone who was called and asked to sign the ‘deal’.”

7) “Quote of the Year” – Vedomosti (December 29, 2005)
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, ex-Chief of Yukos: “Certainly Abramovich did not do anything to help me, but he is Putin’s friend anyway, not mine.”

8) "Politician of the Year" -- Ekho Moskvy (January 2, 2005)

In an Internet poll done by radio station Ekho Moskvy, Mikhail Khodorkovsky was voted "Politician of the Year" by approximately 46 percent of the 14,000 people who participated. Former Kremlin economic advisor Andrei Illarionov won second place with 19 percent. President Vladimir Putin came in third place with 16 percent of the vote.

9) "Person of the Year" -- Rambler (January 11, 2006)

As in 2004, Mikhail Khodorkovsky received third place for Rambler’s “People of 2005” award. President Putin was awarded with second place and the Russian internet user received the first place award.