16/05/2005 6:11:06 pm
A Russian Spectacle. Today, judges in Moscow claimed that Mikhail Khodorkovsky was guilty on at least four of the seven charges against him. This is a ridiculous spectacle. If he is guilty, then the law is wrong. This former leader of the successful Yukos was caught by the armed forces of the government when he was about to attend a conference. The Russian leadership, i e Putin, could no longer tolerate a potential political challenger. A very successful businessman could become a great political leader - perhaps a candidate for the presidency. Thus, the current leader used what the state always has a their last resort when people don?t obey: the guns. He has now been jailed for 17 months and taken part in a so-called trial. It has nothing to do with justice, and everyone knows it. But, as the Moscow Times points out, they may have made one serious mistake. Khodorkovsky is very skillful and may emerge from this a stronger and even more respected person:

"Calm and well spoken, he has stood on principle. He has not shown weakness or anger, often smiling from behind the bars of the defendants? cage. He has shown genuine love for his parents and for his wife.

Speaking in his own defense, he has put to shame the prosecutors, who have bored the court day after day by reading reams of documents that rarely seemed relevant.

He has spoken eloquently about his hopes and fears for Russia and promised to work for the good of his country. His motivation may be questioned but not his ideas."

This case has been one of the most worrying examples of Russia getting more authoritarian. Let?s hope that the Moscow Times is right. Individuals can change the course of history.

Read the editorial in the Moscow Times here - >