Putin's victory
Dec 30th 2010, 17:25 by T.N. and A.O. | LONDON AND MOSCOW
Today's sentence was delivered by a judge in a courtroom but decided by Mr Putin, Russia's prime minister. It is retrospectively applied back to 2003, when the two men were first arrested, meaning they face a further seven years in prison. This is a firm indication that Mr Putin will remain at the top of Russian politics until and beyond the next presidential election in 2012.
As an article in the new edition of the print magazine explains, the persecution of Mr Khodorkovsky and the subsequent state appropriation of Yukos form a linchpin of the system constructed by Mr Putin. One effect of today's ruling will be to damage the credibility of Dmitry Medvedev, inside and outside Russia. The president has tried to disassociate himself from the case. But unlike the first Khodorkovsky trial, in which the two defendants were convicted of underpaying taxes on oil, this one occurred on the president's watch. The verdict and the sentence make a mockery of his soothing utterances about modernisation and the importance of the rule of law.
The German and American governments have expressed their concern over the sentence and its implications for Russian justice, as they did earlier in the week when the judge delivered his verdict. But Mr Putin is unlikely to allow his victory to be soured.
The defendants' legal team have said they will appeal against the verdict.
As an article in the new edition of the print magazine explains, the persecution of Mr Khodorkovsky and the subsequent state appropriation of Yukos form a linchpin of the system constructed by Mr Putin. One effect of today's ruling will be to damage the credibility of Dmitry Medvedev, inside and outside Russia. The president has tried to disassociate himself from the case. But unlike the first Khodorkovsky trial, in which the two defendants were convicted of underpaying taxes on oil, this one occurred on the president's watch. The verdict and the sentence make a mockery of his soothing utterances about modernisation and the importance of the rule of law.
The German and American governments have expressed their concern over the sentence and its implications for Russian justice, as they did earlier in the week when the judge delivered his verdict. But Mr Putin is unlikely to allow his victory to be soured.
The defendants' legal team have said they will appeal against the verdict.
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