The Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE), the Union of Entrepreneurs' Organizations of Russia (OPORA), and the Delovaya Rossiya movement published a joint address. Their address runs as follows:

"Escalation of the actions of the government and law enforcement agencies has drastically worsened the atmosphere in society lately. The trust of business in the government has been undermined, and the dialogue has de facto collapsed. The law enforcement agencies are punishing businessmen who have dared to publicly disclose information about their companies and ensured transparent payment of taxes. Today Russian business does not trust the current law enforcement system and its authorities. Thousands of small and medium-sized entrepreneurs are victims of their arbitrariness every day. Companies are forced to reassess investment strategies and give projects of national importance. Gross errors by the authorities mistakes have sent the country several years back in time and undermined confidence to their statements on the inviolability of the revision of privatization results.

These developments are so important that Russian business calls on all present political parties and public organisations to openly voice their attitude to these problems.

Only a clear and unambiguous position from the Russian President Vladimir Putin can change the situation.

Any failure to provide such a position will irreversibly worsen the economic climate and make Russia a country with unfavourable conditions for business development."

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The statement of the Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS):

"The Union of Right-Wing Forces (SPS) is extremely worried about the detention of head of the company YUKOS M. Khodorkovsky. It seems obvious to us that the case of Khodorkovsky and YUKOS is political in nature. A lack of understanding between the government, business, and society has been displayed again. The government does not want to hear or see anything other than what it tells itself from the state-controlled media controlled. As a result, against the background of apparent welfare supported by managed democracy institutes, destructive processes are going on.

Over the past half year capital flight alone has totalled $8 billion. This process implies a rise in unemployment, the exacerbation of social problems, and enhancement of social inequality. The SPS views the situation as extremely serious and demands that the president meet the leaders of the leading political parties of the country.

The SPS calls on its colleagues from parliament to address the President with a corresponding proposal."

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The Democratic Party YABLOKO and the SPS also made a joint statement, where they demanded observation of the law "regarding all people connected with the proceedings instituted by the Prosecutor General's Office.

YABLOKO's leader Grigory Yavlinsky characterised the situation as follows, "All this has become possible owing to the lack of any independent media, independent judiciary and legislative systems in the country. The law on the prosecutors' office is hopelessly obsolete and does not correspond with European standards. There is no civil control over the actions of the secret services. And if we add here the harmonic fusion of business and the government we get a picture of capitalism with a Stalinist face. The YABLOKO party has prepared a packaged of draft laws which will make it possible to rectify this situation, provided that they are adopted. These laws will regulate lobbying in the State Duma, require transparency in the financing of political parties, support a competitive basis in the economy and will protect the government and president from the oligarchs. If this package of draft laws is not adopted, the country will continue its slide into the abyss: Any of us any time could be in the same situation. It is unclear how much time should pass until Russia becomes a democratic country, and not the Potemkin village as it is now."

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Communist leader Gennadi Zyuganov is "extremely worried" about the situation surrounding the detention of Khodorkovsky by law enforcement agencies. On Saturday, Zyuganov said that the persecution of YUKOS by some of the authorities was becoming increasingly serious owing to Khodorkovsky's political ambitions. He said: "When Khodorkovsky was in business only, he was a partner of the powers-that-be, but as soon as he announced his political ambitions, he immediately became an opponent, and the current government has no scruples in dealing with its opponents." Zyuganov supports the initiative for an immediate meeting between the president and representatives of the political parties in parliament. He said: "We are ready for such a meeting. We have many claims against the government, not only about YUKOS but also about violations of electoral rights that we have witnessed."

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From the announcement of the People's Party:

The People's Party completely supports the actions of the law enforcement agencies, leading to the detention of the head of YUKOS Mikhail Khodorkovsky. We do not fear that the investigation of the case of one tycoon will lead to a review of the reforms of the 1990s. All society-oriented political parties should defend the interests of the people, the state, and the president against the arrogant tycoons. It is necessary to share one's riches with society!" The document is signed by Chairman of the People's Party Gennadi Raikov and his senior deputy Valery Galchenko.

***

The observer of "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" got in touch with the Press Secretary of the President Alexei Gromov to find out whether the President would announce his position on developments at YUKOS. "If something is planned, we will let you know," answered Gromov. "Did the President receive the address of the businessmen?" - "I cannot say any more." Businessmen hope that Vladimir Putin will visit the RUIE congress which is scheduled for November 14. They say in the Bureau that they have such information. However, the presidential press service would not comment.

See also:

YUKOS Case

Nezavisimaya Gazeta, October 27, 2003