Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s official PR representative, Olga Pispanen, has been interviewed by Russian news website Osobaya Bukva. Below is an English translation of the interview:

Were you surprised to receive an offer to become the official PR representative of Mikhail Khodorkovsky?

I have spent 20 years in journalism while Khodorkovsky’s tragic story unravelled before my eyes – he has always been worthy of admiration. I was struck by the injustice that took place against Khodorkovsky and his associates; I say this with all sincerity, because I have been following his story since the beginning, not because I now work for him.

I could never imagine 10 years ago, 5 years ago, even a year ago, that I would work with him. I am grateful for his trust and I will work hard to justify it.

It is not a secret that Khodorkovsky is considered a personal enemy of some of the Kremlin’s inhabitants; and people close to him, are also considered enemies. Are you not afraid?

Of course I am, I am a mother. I live in Russia and I want to continue to live in Russia. I want my children to grow up here, to go to school, to university. Sometimes I feel scared. I am a person who is involved with the media; I know how easy it is to become the subject of repression. But my decision to work with Khodorkovsky is a conscious, balanced and reflected upon decision.

What will be your first steps in the new job; would you change anything in terms of presenting information about Khodorkovsky?

I am not here to change anything. Everything that is supposed to be done is already being done by specialists. The Press Center of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev has been there since the first Yukos case and there are also their lawyers. 

My work is normal international practice. Busy people – businessmen, high officials, politicians – they are all getting help from people who can articulate their decisions, can be their voice in the public sphere. Since we are talking about Khodorkovsky, who is forcibly prevented from communicating in the public sphere, I will be his voice.

Mikhail Borisovich will soon be free; we need to prepare people who have forgotten about the Yukos affair.

In the regions, for example, Yukos is probably not even remembered since the signs on gas stations changed from “Yukos” to “Rosneft”. Since we all know that the federal television nearly never mentions Khodorkovsky, we should try and return the name of Mikhail Borisovich and Platon Leonidovich and the Yukos topic to the public sphere.

What are the technical aspects of interacting with Khodorkovsky? Mikhail Khodorkovsky is imprisoned – not even in prison, but in a colony, far away…

Of course there are big difficulties. Khodorkovsky is not just imprisoned; he is imprisoned with special circumstances. It is common knowledge that convicts today have mobile phones and can use the Internet, some even write blogs. Mikhail Borisovich is deprived of all these comforts as he is under strict supervision. I imagine that he has never held an iPhone! When he was arrested in 2003 such technology didn’t exist.

I hope that I soon will visit Karelia myself. I don’t think I will be allowed into the colony since I am not a relative or a lawyer. But at least I will see the colony. I can’t imagine what it’s like to be behind bars for 10 years– without relatives, children, without all that we have in our everyday lives.

Thank you very much and good luck.

Thank you.

The original version of the interview in Russian is here