Khodorkovsky Supporters Demonstrate at Moscow Court House

Although the sentencing of Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his partner Platon Lebedev was postponed until May 16, hundreds gathered before the court house in central Moscow on April 27 to pledge their support for the jailed oil tycoon who could face up to 10 years in prison for fraud.

A crowd of 250-300 people gathered for a sanctioned rally before the Meschansky Court, with t-shirts, posters and banners supporting a man who has literally become a poster boy for human rights and democratic values in Russia. Representatives from the liberal Yabloko and SPS parties were actively involved in the rally.

The human rights group Sovest and the political organization Oborona were also present.

But side by side with Khodorkovsky’s supporters, there was a smaller group of people who wanted to see Khodorkovsky in jail and protested against what they feared would be a leniency in his sentence.

(From Mosnews, 4.27.2005)