Panels probe Yukos and Magnitsky cases

The Voice of Russia

The cases of Yukos and Magnitsky came into the public focus again over the week as experts of the European Court of Human Rights discussed the trials of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev and Russia’s Prosecutor-General probed the death of Hermitage Capital lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. And a panel at the Russian president’s Human Rights Commission is currently working on a report to shed more light on these high-profile cases.

According to a report published by the European Court of Human Rights, the trial against former Yukos chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky was not politically motivated.

In 2005 Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev were sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement and tax evasion. In spring 2009 they faced another trial on charges of stealing oil and money-laundering. In December 2010, they were sentenced to 13.5 years in prison but the term was cut by one year later. In accordance with the court’s final sentence, the two will get out of prison in 2016.

Western politicians, media and opposition groups in Russia claim that the Yukos case is a politically motivated one. Amnesty International has described the two oil tycoons as “prisoners of conscience”. Their lawyers filed several complaints with the Strasbourg Court. On Tuesday, European Commission judges ruled to the effect that Khodorkovsky’s sanitary conditions in prison in August-October 2005 were humiliating and he had less than 4 square meters of private space. The judges also appealed against Khodorkovsky being kept behind bars in the courtroom on the assumption that his behavior was non-aggressive. Moscow was obliged to pay 25-thousand-euro compensation. However, the European Court lacked proof to pronounce Khodorkovsky a political prisoner. Yekaterina Alisievich, a professor of law at the Russian University of People’s Friendship, comments.

“The Court is guided by the legal, not political, circumstances of the case. It bases its opinion on substantiated evidence, not political views common in Europe or Russia.”

As for Khodorkosvky’s incarceration conditions, Moscow will honor the Strasbourg Court’s ruling concerning compensation. Valery Borshchev, Chairman of the Moscow Human Rights Commission, has this to say.

“Members of the Commission visited Khodorkovsky in prison, and he said he had no complaints regarding his conditions or nutrition.”

The report of the Moscow Human Rights Commission on the Magnitsky case will be included in the final statement of a working group at the presidential human rights chamber.

The final judgment of Russia’s Prosecutor-General on the Magnitsky case announced by spokesman for the Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin on May 30th indicated no breaches of the law from the chief investigating officer. Lawyer Sergei Magnitsky was accused of dodging taxes on company revenues through a wide network of subsidiaries. More than 5 billion rubles were stolen through the scheme. Magnitsky was arrested and died in custody on November 16th 2009. Prosecutors said that the 37-year-old lawyer died of heart failure. Officials from his advisory firm Hermitage Capital claim that he could have been saved had he received timely medical assistance. President Medvedev appointed a special panel to probe the case. Members of the panel insist that the decision to transfer Magnitsky from the detention center to the prison hospital should have been taken by the chief investigator. Valery Borshchev has this to say.

“The chief investigating officer bears responsibility for not placing Magnitsky in hospital. Allegations that it was the decision of the prison administration are groundless. The chief investigator said no to Magnitsky’s lawyers. His actions have to be assessed in appropriate light for the good of the state and society.”

The panel probing the Magnistky case is to report about its findings by the end of June. Along with Magnitsky’s death, the investigators have to look into other possible crimes related to the case and identify those involved. According to President Medvedev, Russia will continue to upgrade its law enforcement and judicial systems. срочный займ на карту онлайн займы онлайн на карту срочно https://zp-pdl.com/how-to-get-fast-payday-loan-online.php https://zp-pdl.com/how-to-get-fast-payday-loan-online.php срочный займ на карту онлайн