Support The Moscow Times!

Foreigners Considered for Yukos Review

Foreign experts could be invited by the Kremlin to look into the case of jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky but his verdict will not be overturned, President Dmitry Medvedev's human rights council said Monday.

Khodorkovsky, in jail since 2003, was sentenced in December to six more years behind bars after what his supporters said was a politically motivated theft and money-laundering trial. The United States has sharply criticized the decision.

"A group of professionals, possibly including foreign experts with knowledge of our legal system … is now carefully being considered," council member Tamara Morshchakova told reporters.

Morshchakova said Medvedev was "pleased" when he heard the council's proposal to involve foreigners last week.

Morshchakova, a former justice at the Constitutional Court who has publicly criticized her country's legal failings, stressed that the experts' conclusions "will have no direct legal consequences" on Khodorkovsky's verdict.

Their findings will instead be used to recommend changes to the existing laws on economic crimes, she added.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more