New York – The legendary Russian rock band DDT completed its North American tour with a concert at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom. The band’s lead singer Yuri Shevchuk called for the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky during a performance of the “Song of freedom.” Drawing attention to Pavel Khodorkovsky and his mother, Yelena, who were in the audience, Shevchuk announced: “Khodorkovsky’s first wife and son are here. Freedom to Khodorkovsky! We dedicate this song to him”.

The Russian Voice of America recorded an interview with Shevchuk after the concert (the video in Russian is below):

“I was at the court during the Khodorkovsky trial. I went there by myself – I saw the snakelike smiles of prosecutors; I saw Khodorkovsky and his friend [Platon Lebedev –ed]. It was very important for me to be there… because I believe that Mikhail is an extraordinary individual with an extraordinary faith. I think that he knows all about life, and he knows all about the people, because the people are imprisoned with him. He knows simple people as well as big business sharks. Actually, he is a real man. How he composes himself and how he behaves, how courageous, fearless and powerful he is… I respect him a lot. He has principles”.