Liberated member of the Pussy Riot band, Ekaterina Samutsevich spoke about Mikhail Khodorkovsky during an interview with Russian radio Echo of Moscow (Special Opinion program, 12.10.2012)

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Host: The new lawyer, what about her performance? Well, it is true, the result of her speech is your freedom.

Ekaterina: Yes, brilliant performance, a brilliant addition to the appeal. I did not expect this result. Well, the new lawyer Irina Khrunova – above all she has an impeccable political reputation. For me it was an important moment when I was choosing a new lawyer. She led the Khodorkovsky case. That is, for me it is a very important fact, and, naturally, I wanted to work with her.

Host: And, by the way, do you know that Mikhail Khodorkovsky expressed his views on your case (Pussy Riot case), and explained what it was like to be taken back and forth, to and from the hearings at the court.

Ekaterina: Yes, he wrote me a letter and I answered. We write to each other.

Host: How important was that for you?

Ekaterina: Of course it was very important. Khodorkovsky is one of the major figures amongst political prisoners. Naturally, his situation is different from ours, nonetheless it is in the same line of the government repressions targeted against Russia’s citizens who criticise power.

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Full transcript of the original interview in Russian