Statements of Support (2003-2013) / Bryant, Chris MP

“It has been two years since I visited Moscow and witnessed firsthand Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s trial in the Khamovnichesky Court. For Khodorkovsky, this week marks the 9th anniversary of his arrest; the start of the tenth year he has been away from his wife, children and parents. I have often raised his case in Parliament, highlighting how it is illustrative of the major human rights abuses that continue in Russia, how fear of a similar fate limits trade by demonstrating the pervasive corruption that British businesses could also face, how the UK Government needs to tackle head-on the problems of repression faced by the media, NGOs and even punk bands like Pussy Riot. Russia’s direction under President Putin is worrying; ensuring Khodorkovsky doesn’t reach a decade of injustice would be a promising start to easing some of those concerns”

Chris Bryant MP, British Labour Party, October 29, 2012