The question about Michail Khodorkovsky’s fate, which is discussed very seldom in Russian central TV channels and especially in statements of chief executives of the state, was brought up during the televised call-in show with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Usually such questions sound during press conferences of Russian persons of high standing in foreign countries, and they are asked by foreign journalists, however, on Thursday the question about Khodorkovsky sounded from the lips of, so called, ordinary citizen of Russia.

Answering the Russian people’s questions in live program of the TV-channel «Vesti», Putin reminded that the sentence to the ex-head of the «Yukos» oil company was passed by the court. «The problem is not when someone will be released, but not to repeat such crimes in our country», — in particular, Prime Minister stated.

He also added that in the course of the trial there were proved five episodes of contract murders. Putin emphasized that Alexey Pichugin who allegedly was responsible for these assassinations, fallowed direct instructions of the company’s shareholders.

Michail Khodorkovsky himself reacted to Vladimir Putin’s statement at the same day just in the courtroom of the Khamovnichesky district court of Moscow. He once again appealed to petition for Prime Minister to be summoned to give evidence in the second criminal case of «Yukos». According to Khodorkovsky, Putin knows certain circumstances, concealed from the court.

«I would ask you, Your Honor, to read statements that Mr. Putin made in Paris where he not only told for what scope of crimes I had been convicted, but also he revealed this scope. Not going into discussion, whether this scope real or farfetched, you, as a lawyer, undoubtedly, pay attention that it contradicts or includes the charges brought to me in this trial. And this, of course, cannot but to be of interest to the court. Because the most conversant person in the state confirms that either I have already convicted for what is trying in the current trial, or that what is discussed in current trial is eliminated by what I was convicted for before»,- Michail Khodorkovksy said.

Concerning Alexey Pichugin, he doesn’t plead guilty from the very beginning of the investigation and up to date and says that no one gave him any instruction and he has never committed any crimes. Alexey Pichugin’s lawyer Kseniya Kostromina reminded about this on the radio station «Echo of Moscow».

Now Alexey Pichugin’s case is trying in the European Court of Human Rights.

According to the materials of «Echo of Moscow», «Grani.ru» and Khodorkovsky.ru, 03.12.2009