Khodorkovsky Denounces Reports of Yukos Mafia Ties

In a short statement published on Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s Web-site the former Yukos CEO denounced the latest attack on the oil company. The statement appears to be Khodorkovsky’s response to a documentary on Yukos’ alleged ties with ethnic criminal groups to be showed on NTV this Sunday.

“Even facing trial I cannot ignore libel against me and an attempt to shift the blame for rampant crime on someone else,” Khodorkovsky said in a statement.

“I joined Yukos after it was privatized in 1995-1996. In just one year we managed to purge the former state-owned company of total domination by gangsters, including those of Chechen origin. To that end all that had to be done was to introduce order. As long as order is maintained in the company, it will be delivered from crime.

”The same — that is, introducing order — will help tackle crime in the entire country, although this may require more time. However, on a nationwide scale, introduction of an order alone will not suffice. Society, too, must take part in the process.

“As regards libel and public speculation on such a sensitive issue as settling scores, in my opinion, such means not only smear that hard work but also disrupt it, undermining public confidence.”

(from : Moscow News)
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Comment from Webmaster : I did not see the film, but I've red all the russian newspapers that have published these accusations - they are not even logical! Shame on them!