In comments to Gazeta.ru, Khodorkovsky’s lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant explains the background to Khodorkovsky’s supervisory appeal letter:

‘The complaint is directed in order of paragraph 4, article 406 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The article gives the Supreme Court Chairman the right to disagree with the ruling of Judge Voronov which dismissed the joint appeal of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev against the verdict of Judge Danilkin and acts of the Moscow City Court legalising this verdict. The Supreme Court Chairman is the next destination for the appeal letter after Judge Voronov.  Only the Supreme Court Chairman or his deputies are able to turn our previous complaint over to the judicial review of the Board of the Supreme Court. Nobody else has such a right,’ he explained.

Kluvgant believes that the personal form of the appeal letter in this case is logical. ‘Now is the time; Vyacheslav Lebedev has said many times: “When and if I will be the Judge of Khodorkovsky’s case, then I will evaluate it”.

Khodorkovsky has personally reminded Vyacheslav Lebedev that now is the moment to do that. Such a message must be personal – explained Kluvgant.

‘The scale of shame (regarding the Khodorkovsky – Lebedev case) is so large that it is about time for some serious judicial view on this case, – stated Kluvgant.

Click HERE to read the original article on Gazeta.ru