| The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses
its sincere and deep regret in view of the fact that Platon
Lebedev [ex-head of Menatep imprisoned on the YUKOS case]
was not released on parole.
Courts in our country often apply release on parole to killers
and rapists who after their release turn into serial pedophiles.
However, when absolutely non-dangerous for the citizens and
publicly important figures such as Platon Lebedev are concerned,
than private or group interests of the authorities prevail
under the mask of law. The leadership of the country did not
take any special decision on Lebedevs release on parole in
an exceptional order which is not surprising in the context
of the political developments around Platon Lebedev and Mikhail
Khodorkovsky case.
Examination of Platon Lebedevs application on release on
parole and the decision adopted by court once again demonstrate
that laws are applied selectively in our country and courts
are not always obeying the law but try to serve to those in
power. Thus a fundamental principle not only of our Constitution
but also of modern life division of power is violated.
Unfortunately all the loud statements by President Medvedev
on modernisation of judicial system have remained unrealized.
That is why the Russian citizens do not believe in fair justice,
moreover the society alienates itself from the Russian state.
We have been thinking and still think that Platon Lebedev
and Mikhail Khodorkovsky must be released, this would become
an important and humanistic step and at the same time would
serve to improvement of our public climate. We shall spare
no effort for this.
YABLOKO calls the defence of Platon Lebedev not to loosen
the efforts targeted at his release, and the Russian society
to support the prisoner and continue demanding his release
from the authorities.
We think that a true reform of the judicial system requires
deep and decisive political changes, people rejecting the
practices of the Soviet punitory system and orienting on European
values and European institutes should come into power in Russia.
Only this will allow for real improvements in the Russian
legal system and revision of thousands of unlawful verdics
made by courts for the past twenty years.
YABLOKO calls all the indifferent citizens to facilitate election
of honest, really well-educated and European-minded politicians
into power during parliamentary (2011) and presidential (2012)
elections in Russia.
Sergei Mitrokhin,
Chair of the YABLOKO party
See also:
YABLOKO
supports Platon Lebedev in Velsk. Press Release. July 26,
2011.
YABLOKO
advocates release on parole for YUKOS head Platon Lebedev.
July 20, 2011.
The
YUKOS case
Human
Rights
State Duma
Elections 2011
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