Mikhail Khodorkovsky will be a featured speaker at the upcoming Le Monde Festival, held at the Opera-Bastille on September 20, 6:00PM. The forum is open to everyone, however registration is required online.

Below is an English translation of the announcement published in Le Monde:

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, businessman

Discussion with Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Ten years in prison: no other Russian businessman has paid such a high price as Mikhail Khodorkovsky after Vladimir Putin came to power. The former head of Yukos – dismantled at its own benefit by the Kremlin – has become the symbol and the victim of the deal imposed by Putin to the richest men and, beyond, to the whole russian society: obey in everything and you will be rich.

Released after a presidential pardon in December 2013, Mikhail Khodorkovski was forced to leave immediately his country. As soon as he was released, he made a commitment to the development of the civil society, the values of democracy and the education imperative. Committed, yes, but how? After having shown restraint in media and having taken interest in the Ukrainian crisis, where he went several times this year, the former businessman and the most famous political prisoner in Russa is ready to enter a new phase of his destiny.