Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s decade of injustice came under the spotlight at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg as parliamentarians from Europe’s largest political family – the centre-right EPP-CD – came together to wish Russia’s most famous political prisoner a happy 50th birthday.

Speaking of behalf of the EPP-CD’s 195 members, who represent 41 of the Council of Europe’s 47 member states, Giorgi Kandelaki, a Georgian parliamentarian, praised Khodorkovsky’s vision and sacrifice. 

“This week we are marking the 50th anniversary of a fighter for freedom, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a political prisoner in Russia. Mr Khodorkovsky has a vision of a free and democratic Russia, a vision that we all share here today. We also believe that a free and democratic Russia is possible, and indeed a free and democratic Russia would make the world a different place. So I want to salute Mr Khodorkovsky…and wish him well. I believe that he will be soon with us, and that the world will be different with him.”

German parliamentarian Marina Schuster, speaking on behalf of the Liberal group, the third largest political group PACE with 91 members, made a stinging attack on Russia’s continuing crackdown on civil society organisations.

She also mentioned Khodorkovsky’s politically-motivated prosecutions and demanded that Russia respect the European Convention on Human Rights.

You can see here video of the speech of Mr Kandelaki (in English). His birthday wishes can be viewed on the video from 2.42 min