Pavel Khodorkovsky, president of the Institute of Modern Russia, met Martin Schulz MEP, president of the European Parliament, today in Brussels to discuss recent developments in Russia and the case of his father Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is approaching ten years of detention on politically-motivated charges.

The discussion centred on political prisoners in Russia and the Kremlin’s ongoing crackdown on opposition activists and civil society organisations.

Mr Schulz, a German Social Democrat, was elected to the presidency of the European Parliament in January 2012 and his term will expire in mid-2014.

The meeting with President Schulz comes two-and-a-half years after Pavel’s grandmother Marina Khodorkovskaya met Mr Schulz’s predecessor as president of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek MEP.

“I was delighted to have an opportunity to meet President Schulz and share with him my perspective on the alarming situation in Russia today,” Pavel said

“Mr Schulz is clearly familiar with what’s going on in my country and we discussed developments at length.

“We also talked about my father’s decade of unjust and politically motivated imprisonment.”

“Like me, Mr Schulz understands the importance of the EU-Russia relationship, and he is totally committed to universal values like democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”

“I am grateful that President Schulz took time out of his busy schedule to meet me, and I appreciate his interest in my father’s case.”