Khodorkovsky: The European Court makes concessions to the Russian authorities

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former oil tycoon and head of Yukos who is serving a prison sentence, said that the decision of the European Court of Human Rights stating that his case was not politically motivated is a concession to the Russian authorities, according to Russian media.

Khodorkovsky, who was considered a potential threat to then-President Vladimir Putin, has been in prison since 2003. He was found guilty of fraud and tax evasion, and should be released in 2016.

"I understand the motives of the European Court, which ruled that the political motives behind my arrest and imprisonment, although obvious and even publicly acknowledged by Russian state officials, were never proven (in court)," Khodorkovsky said in an interview. for the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat.

He added that the political motives behind the bankruptcy of "Yukos" are also obvious.

According to him, the European Court of Human Rights is trying to cooperate with the Russian authorities on this issue, fearing that otherwise it could lose the possibility of its decisions being applied in Russia.

"The court made forced concessions to the Russian authorities. Unfortunately, such concessions seriously damage the reputation of the court..." Khodorkovsky said.

"With that in mind, the court made forced concessions to the Russian authorities.

Unfortunately, such concessions seriously damage the reputation of the court..." said Khodorkovsky.

The European Court of Human Rights announced on December 14 that it had refused to reconsider the March 31 ruling, which said that "indisputable evidence" had not been presented to support allegations that Khodorkovsky's persecution was politically motivated.

However, judges in Strasbourg then also said that Russia had violated Khodorkovsky's rights during his arrest and imprisonment in 2003.

Gallery