On July 2, 2003, Platon Lebedev was placed under arrest, causing widespread controversy and panic in the markets over what would happen next in the evolution of the so-called “Yukos Affair.”

As Platon marks the beginning of his 10th year of unlawful imprisonment, the Amnesty International-recognized prisoner of conscience reflects on how much of his life has been taken away during his time behind bars:

“As I enter the 10th year, my children continue to grow older. The children of political prisoners grow no faster or slower than others, but they have to grow up sooner.

As I enter the 10th year, every family member has experienced both joy and sadness over this time. But the lives of the family of a political prisoner are mostly available only in the retelling. (…)

As I enter the 10th year, solitude is a luxury beyond the reach of political prisoners, but it is not replaced by loneliness. (…)

As I enter the 10th year, illegal and schizophrenic judicial decisions have less bearing on me, but still the political prisoners suffer knowing the law is subverted by the judicial system, and offers to justice to them.”

Read the rest of the story on the Russian Press Center (Khodorkovsky.ru) website.