Statements of Support (2003-2013) / Schuster, Marina MEP

“This guilty verdict is a bitter disappointment. I fiercely criticize today’s conviction of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. This outcome was unfortunately the logical consequence of an unfair and politically motivated trial. Russia has thus missed another opportunity to support the rule of law and an independent judiciary in the country. The guilty verdict is a major setback for President Medvedev’s announcement to fight the legal nihilism in Russia. Additionally, the political credibility of policy makers in the Russian Federation, namely Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev, has been badly damaged. There is obviously an interest of the Russian regime, to imprison Khodorkovsky until after the presidential elections”

Marina Schuster MEP Germany (Liberal Party), Human Rights Spokesperson, December 2010