Khodorkovsky Sentence Reduction Welcomed, But EU Must Remain Firm on Human Rights at EU-Russia Summit

Following yesterday’s ruling by the Moscow City Court to reduce sentences applied to political prisoners Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev, theoretically allowing for a release in early 2014, several groups within the European Parliament have responded with statements welcoming the move, but reminding MEPs to hold firm on human rights at today’s EU-Russia Summit.

According to a statement from Laima Andrikienė MEP, vice-chair of the EPP Group Working Group on Foreign Affairs, “The court’s decision does not change at all the injustice of Khodorkovsky’s imprisonment or the politically-motivated nature of his prosecution. This was merely a case of the court implementing the new Russian law on sentencing. It was not an act of mercy or an admission that the conviction was flawed.”

“We know that there is widespread political interference in the Russian court system so it’s possible that this was timed to create a favourable impression ahead of the EU-Russia summit, which takes place this Friday, 21 December”, – continued Laima Andrikiene MEP.

L. Andrikienė said the summit was an important opportunity to consider all aspects of the EU-Russia relationship but called on the Commission and Council for the discussions to reflect the view of the European Parliament as well.

“In recent months MEPs have expressed concerns about Russia’s willingness to keep to its WTO commitments. We have pointed out concerns about Russia’s apparent unwillingness to put pressure on the tyrannical Syrian regime. Parliament has also called for the EU to impose visa restrictions on those involved in the horrific Magnitsky case. These summits are an important opportunity for frank dialogue and the EU should not shy away from the robust positions expressed by the Parliament in recent months”, – underlined Laima Andrikiene MEP.

The EPP’s position was also backed in a statement from Kristiina Ojuland MEP, the spokesperson on Russia for the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE).

Ojuland today expressed satisfaction at news of the two-year reduction in the prison sentence of businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky but warned EU leaders at today’s EU-Russia summit not to be misled.

She pointed out that the decision was a procedural one reflecting recent changes to Russian sentencing law, and that the court refused to overturn the original verdict – widely seen as an injustice following a politically-motivated trial.

Ms Ojuland, the author of Parliament’s recent recommendation for the EU to impose visa restrictions against those responsible for the murder of Sergei Magnitsky, called on EU leaders meeting Vladimir Putin at today’s EU-Russia summit not to be unduly swayed by news of Khodorkovsky’s sentence change.

She made her comments having returned from a visit to Moscow this week with the Parliament’s delegation for relations with Russia. “This welcome news on the Khodorkovsky case should not be allowed to obscure the profound deterioration in the rule of law in Russia.

“The EU should demand answers about why businessmen like Khodorkovsky continue to be locked up, why journalists continue to be killed and in particular why nothing has been done to bring Sergei Magnitsky’s killers to justice.

“EU leaders at the summit need to press Putin on the human rights climate in his country and not focus only on the areas Russia wants to focus on, like trade and visa facilitation.

“In fact we have seen since Russia joined the WTO that it is taking a somewhat selective approach to its obligations so even here the EU needs to express its concerns.”