Mikhail’s mother speaks to TV Contact, Segezha about her son after spending 4 precious hours with him.

The host: Hello, this is “Segezha news” with Maria Zdobnikova. On Tuesday, parents of the former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky arrived at Segezha to see their son. After their meeting in colony number 7, Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s mother Marina Khodorkovskaya gave us an interview.

Marina Khodorkovskaya: The meeting went fine as usual. We were given a full 4 hours. In this context all is fine. How is he feeling? Well he feels like he’s in prison. He is not complaining about anything.

What is the latest news? What did you discuss?

MK: We were discussing the protest spirit in Moscow. In addition, we discussed the development of the outer regions of Russia; we hope that development shall encourage change. Since he (Mikhail Khodorkovsky) is a good manager, he is worried about the fact that in such a rich region there is no work, and, overall, the population lives in poverty. There are possibilities for fisheries, the harvesting of natural resources, and forestry. This region can flourish. The location is between Finland and Saint Petersburg which allows for the distribution of goods. As a manager he understands all this very well and very much regrets that, unfortunately, nothing is happening.

How are his relationships with the administration of the prison?

MK: You know it is very difficult to ask these types of questions whilst he is there. He says: all is according to the law, now.

Is there any discussion about a pardon or is it still the same?

MK: No, there is no discussion about that.

Please, tell me how did you celebrate your son’s birthday? Here, in Segezha, we had a protest on that day.

MK: Yes, I know, they are my friends…

Did you speak with him (Mikhail Khodorkovsky) on the phone?

MK: No, he is only allowed to call on Wednesdays; also he arranges it in order to speak to everyone – parents, immediate family and his eldest son, which does not leave time for long conversations.

How often do you see each other?

MK: We are entitled to visits once every two months.

At the end of May we had the possibility to talk to Mikhail’s lawyer Yuri Schmidt. He admired your son’s stamina and courage. If you let me, I will quote his words: “I am impressed by this absolutely incredible personality”. Did he show this character during his childhood?

MK: Yes, he has always been independent and fair; he has been protecting his legal rights since the age of six. Maybe I already told this story and it is somewhere in the media – his kindergarten teacher told me that they were supposed to have a party and she said to him – “You will not sleep today, but will move the chairs to the auditorium”. He replied: “You don’t have any right; it is the silent hour for children”. The teacher said: “I will force you”, and he replied “Only if you drag me”. She just didn’t take into account his character… He must be talked to in an amicable way, and Putin did not understand that.

Mikhail is imprisoned for 9 years. What helps you to hold on?

MK: You know, perhaps, the fact that he is a self-sufficient person helps me to hold on. In other words, he lives not by the external signs of life, but by his internal needs, his internal thoughts.

Do people support you?

MK: Very much. On his birthday, on the 26th, so many people arrived, that my friends had to go shopping twice, because I didn’t expect so many people to come.

How is he himself holding on?

MK: Fine, fine. All in his thoughts, something to write, something to think about.

Is he continuing his Prison’s People writings?

MK: He says: “If something that catches my heart comes across, then I write”.

What is he reading now?

MK: He says, “I read only what I need for my articles”; he doesn’t have time for anything else.

How are the relationships with other prisoners?

MK: Fine, he is not a confrontational person, so it’s fine.

The host: You have watched the “Segezha News” with Maria Zdobnikova. All the best and see you soon.

Watch the interview here (in Russian):