The recent poll Popular Thinking on the Yukos Case carried out by the Yuri Levada Research Center showed that 18.5 % of interviewees believe the authorities might go so far as to eliminate Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Now that Khodorkovsky has virtually disappeared from the detention center, researchers believe this figure may grow.

When asked how long Khodorkovsky would remain in jail (the poll took place before the Moscow City Court reviewed the cassation appeal), interviewees responded as follows:

• The higher court of appeals will reduce the sentence and prison term Á€“ 19.6 %.


• His prison term will be slashed at the first opportunity or he will be pardoned completely Á€“ 37.4 %.


• He will serve the whole 9 years Á€“ 13.8 %.


• He is unlikely to go free, as his term will be extended repeatedly Á€“ 4.1 %.


• Don't know Á€“ 27.2 %.

The percentage of people who think Khodorkovsky is being persecuted for political reasons remains very high. About 53 % of those polled believe that the trial of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev was initiated by the current authorities Á€“ either the President himself or other people in power. Fifty-nine percent of those interviewed believe that Khodorkovsky's political convictions and his support of political opposition played a major role in his case.

However, many Russians believe that political persecution will not destroy Khodorkovsky as a politician Á€“ 33.4 % are certain that the former Yukos CEO will remain an important factor in the political life of Russia.

Thirty-three percent of those polled expect the authorities to pursue Khodorkovsky's supporters. Interestingly, this concern was voiced before numerous searches and investigative actions wee conducted in lawyers' offices and the offices of the Open Russia Foundation. Had the poll been conducted later, the number of people who anticipated persecution of Khodorkovsky's supporters would be significantly higher.

The poll was carried out by Yuri Levada Research Center on September 16-19, 2005 and was based on the nation-wide representative sample of 1,600 citizens aged 18 and over. They were selected from 128 communities in 46 regions, based on social, demographic and professional criteria.