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Human rights court condemns Russia over collapse of Yukos

Evening Standard

Fresh concerns about the perils of doing business in Russia erupted today when the European Court of Human Rights condemned the Kremlin for its role in bringing about the collapse of oil giant Yukos.

Judges ruled that Russia’s government violated the rights of the oil major – once the biggest in Russia – which was forced into bankruptcy over a multi-billion-dollar tax claim after its boss, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was arrested in 2003.

Supporters of Khodorkovsky, who was jailed for nine years after being found guilty of six charges including tax evasion and remains in prison, claim he was the victim of a campaign by then-President Vladimir Putin to destroy a tycoon seen as a threat to his rule.