Khodorkovsky asks for courtroom contact with lawyers

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former chief of the oil company YUKOS, has asked for change in the procedure of his contacts with lawyers during court proceedings.

At present, guards do not permit to his lawyers to turn over any documents to Khodorkovsky and another defendant, ex-chief of MENATEP Platon Lebedev, during court hearings.

Khodorkovsky’s lawyer Genrikh Padva said “it is senseless to ask for a break every 15 minutes – this can protract the trial”.

Khodorkovsky, who is on trial on charges of tax evasion and fraud, also asked to be given an additional day for contacts with his lawyers.

“One day a week is not enough,” he said.

Judge Irina Kolesnikova said she did not object to communication of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev with their lawyers during breaks in proceedings, but contacts of the defendants in the courtroom were in the competence of the escort.

“Instructions of the escort cannot be of interest to either court or defendants when this infringes upon rights of the defence,” Khodorkovsky replied.

The court continued on Monday the questioning of the first witness of prosecution, former chief of Apatit company Anatoly Pozdnaykov.

State prosecutor Dmitry Shokhm at a previous court session pointed out to several inconsistencies in the testimony of Pozdnyakov during the preliminary investigation.

Khodorkovsky argued that the “protocol of the interrogation was unusual for me, as in my opinion, the investigator made several mistaken statements that the witness had to somehow explain later”.

“I’m afraid very much that now we have received mistaken information based on delusions. I believe that the investigator himself was in error and misled the witness, saying that investments must be without indemnity. As of today, after announcement of the materials of the case, we know for certain that the investments must not be without indemnity,” Khodorkovsky said.

“In terms of privatisation, the obligations of Apatit to issue and turn over to investors 50 percent of stocks were clearly stated, but this was not dine,” he added.

A break has been announced in the court proceedings.

HERE