24. Jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky urged a judge in Moscow today to end his days “slurping gruel” in prison, saying the fate of every Russian was tied up with his own. Khodorkovsky was speaking on the final day of his trial for stealing $25bn of crude oil from subsidiaries of his own Yukos oil company, a charge widely seen as vengeance for his financing of political parties opposing the Kremlin. “A state that destroys its best companies, which are ready to become global champions, a country that holds its own citizens in contempt, trusting only the bureaucracy and the special services, is a sick state,” he told a packed courtroom. The Russian businessman was arrested in 2003 on charges of fraud and sentenced to eight years in a Siberian prison colony in 2005. A new trial of Khodorkovsky and his Yukos partner, Platon Lebedev, began in March last year after prosecutors laid fresh charges of stealing oil and shares, and money laundering. A verdict is expected on 15 December. Political analysts believe the Kremlin wants to ensure Khodorkovsky is not released in the run-up to the 2012 presidential elections. The 46-year-old, who has spent most of his confinement so far at a penal colony close to the border with China, has kept up a stream of diatribes against the Russian government via his website and articles in the press. Khodorkovsky addressed the court from behind a glass screen. He accused President Dmitry Medvedev of leading Russia into stagnation, saying he had dashed hopes the country would become “free from the arbitrary behavior of officials, free from corruption, free from unfairness and lawlessness.”. It is generally believed that...

Question

24. Jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky urged a judge in Moscow today to end his days “slurping gruel” in prison, saying the fate of every Russian was tied up with his own. Khodorkovsky was speaking on the final day of his trial for stealing $25bn of crude oil from subsidiaries of his own Yukos oil company, a charge widely seen as vengeance for his financing of political parties opposing the Kremlin.    “A state that destroys its best companies, which are ready to become global champions, a country that holds its own citizens in contempt, trusting only the bureaucracy and the special services, is a sick state,” he told a packed courtroom.    The Russian businessman was arrested in 2003 on charges of fraud and sentenced to eight years in a Siberian prison colony in 2005. A new trial of Khodorkovsky and his Yukos partner, Platon Lebedev, began in March last year after prosecutors laid fresh charges of stealing oil and shares, and money laundering. A verdict is expected on 15 December.     Political analysts believe the Kremlin wants to ensure Khodorkovsky is not released in the run-up to the 2012 presidential elections. The 46-year-old, who has spent most of his confinement so far at a penal colony close to the border with China, has kept up a stream of diatribes against the Russian government via his website and articles in the press.  Khodorkovsky addressed the court from behind a glass screen. He accused President Dmitry Medvedev of leading Russia into stagnation, saying he had dashed hopes the country would become “free from the arbitrary behavior of officials, free from corruption, free from unfairness and lawlessness.”.  It is generally believed that...

Accepted Answer

The Kremlin wanted revenge on Khodorkovsky

Answer

The Kremlin is opposed to the possible sentencing of Khodorkovsky.

Answer

Khodorkovsky is innocent.

Answer

Khodorkovsky will pay his way out of jail.

Crowdly

24. Jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky urged a judge in Moscow today to end hi...

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