ALDE MEPs, the third largest group in the European Parliament, also paid tribute to Khodorkovsky today, sending their greetings on his 50th birthday.

“Mikhail Khodorkovsky is celebrating his birthday behind bars today, but the spirit and influence which he supports cannot be kept in chains,” said Sir Graham Watson, President of the ALDE Party, which includes two Russian parties banned from participation in the most recent parliamentary elections – People’s Democratic Union and Russian United Democratic Party-Yabloko.

“In Russia you can go from being one of the world’s most successful businessmen to being one of the world’s most notorious political prisoners, primarily for funding a Liberal party”, Sir Graham added.

The ALDE Group Russia spokesperson Kristiina Ojuland MEP is leading calls for reform inRussia and a reversal of the alarming trend towards authoritarianism in the country. She said:

“Instead of being marginalised and isolated as the regime would like, Khodorkovsky has become a central figure in the opposition movement and the debate about Russia’s future.”

“The story of Khodorkovsky is the story of modern Russia.”

“Hopefully, too, he will help to write the next chapter in the story of Russia’s post-Soviet development, and in particular its transition to a properly democratic state based on the rule of law,” concluded Ms Ojuland, who is also Parliament’s rapporteur on the Magnitsky case.

An attempt to diminish Khodorkovsky’s political ambition by imprisoning him has turned him into the symbol of political prisoners in Russia. The suppression of Russian opposition has continued by a raid on the “For Human Rights” organisation last weekend. On the night of 21 June the staff of the “For Human Rights” organisation including its leader Lev Ponomaryov and Sergey Mitrokhin, the candidate for Moscow Mayor and the leader of the Yabloko party which is a member of ALDE Party were forcefully evicted from their rental premises and beaten up by the police officers and a private security company.