| Today on July 26, local YABLOKO branch in the town of
Velsk, Arkhangelsk region, and the Vazhsky Krai public movement
conducted a picket in support of Platon Lebedev, ex-head of
the Menatep Group (the YUKOS case). The Velsk City Court has
begun examination of Lebedevs application on release on parole.
According to Valery Kvitkovsky, head of the Velsk branch
of YABLOKO, about 30 people were picketing the court. People
were holding placards Freedom to Platon Lebedev, No to
Police State! and Citizens of Velsk Support Platon Lebedev.
The action began at 8:30 at the central square of the town
and was held until 11 a.m. until Platon Lebedev was convoyed
to court. Some of YABLOKOs activists managed to get into
the courts hall and listen to the trial. Journalists of federal
media, including Dmitry Muratov, Editor-in-Chief of oppositional
Novaya Gazeta, were also present.
Tomorrow, on July 27, YABLOKO will hold another picket in
support of political prisoner Platon Lebedev.
YABLOKO insists that the court should take a positive decision
on Lebedevs application. Release of prisoners and re-examination
of the YUKOS case in courts, as well as other similar cases
of Russian businessmen will become an essential and necessary
step in Russias movement from the post-Soviet authoritarian
state towards normal policies and a European style economy
functioning in the interests of Russian citizens, runs YABLOKOs
statement in support of Lebedev.
Mitigating the terms of imprisonment for Platon Lebedev
and adopting a decision of his release on parole, the Court
of Velsk may lay foundations for the beginning of judicial
reform, make the first step towards the creation of a new
Russian court, which will be independent and governed by law,
rather than by arbitrary rule and private or group interests
under the guise of legality, noted YABLOKOs leader Sergei
Mitrokhin.
See also:
YABLOKO
advocates release on parole for YUKOS head Platon Lebedev.
July 20, 2011.
The
YUKOS case
Human
Rights
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