August 15, 2005

Detention Conditions of Russian Yukos Ex-Chief Deteriorate – Lawyer

Authorities are tightening Mikhail Khodorkovsky's detention conditions. The number of inmates in the cell where he is being held in detention has increased to 16, Anton Drel, lawyer of the ex-Yukos chief told Ekho Moskvy Radio. Drell said, “When a group of lawyers visited Khodorkovsky today, we learned unexpectedly that he was now being held in a cell where a total of 16 inmates stayed. There had been an obvious increase from 11 to 13 people in the cell, and now their number increased from 13 to 16. It is quite difficult to say what was behind this. As regards the actions taken by the defence, one of the lawyers today sent a relevant document to the management of the remand centre - document 77/1 - and I believe that some actions will be taken within the next few days to protect the interests of our client.”

(Source: Ekho Moskvy.)