Feb-12-2004

A motion to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (“PACE”) to appoint a Rapporteur to investigate the Yukos cases highlights the politically motivated nature of Russia’s activities against Mr. Khodorkovsky, Mr. Nevzlin, and Yukos (including Mr. Pichugin).

“Mr. Khodorkovsky has supported corporate and political reform in recent years and those activities by the authorities of the Russian Federation against him and Yukos [including against Mr. Pichugin] commenced after Mr. Khodorkovsky had announced he would fund opposition parties during the campaign for the elections to the Russian Duma in 2003.”

And: “The Assembly also notes that [additional] charges against Mr. Nevzlin were announced after publicly declared his support for [opposition] presidential candidate Irina Khakadama recently.”

[PACE Doc. 10083, Feb. 12, 2004].