Mikhail Khodorkovsky: This is a very courageous person
June 25, 2020
In an Echo of Moscow radio interview, Mikhail Khodorkovsky talked about Alexey Pichugin’s case. He reminded listeners that there are now two European Court of Human Rights judgments, both stating that Pichugin’s right to a fair trial was violated. There is a presumption of innocence, and until a person’s guilt is proven at a fair trial, he is innocent. And this innocent person has been behind bars for 17 years now, without admitting his guilt of course. Mikhail Khodorkovsky stressed that this is a very courageous person.
The authorities will continue to keep him in jail until they realize that it’s of less benefit to them to keep him in jail than to set him free. From that point of view, the pardon denials show the international community, those sitting across from Putin at the negotiating table, the European legal community, that the Russian authorities and Vladimir Putin personally couldn’t care less about the agreements they sign. They signed an agreement stating we acknowledge the European Court of Human Rights’ authority, but whenever the Russian authorities need to, they totally disregard European Court of Human Rights’ judgments. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers said so several times. This is important because people in Europe realize they are dealing with a person, with a power whose word can’t be trusted, be it a spoken word or a written word.
Echo of Moscow, excerpts from Utrennyi Razvorot [Morning newscast] with Mikhail Khodorkovsky
June 25, 2020
Host: I want to ask you about Alexey Pichugin who is at the Black Dolphin prison camp. He was denied release once again. Tell me about that. I’m sure you’re working with some lawyers to make that happen sooner or later, secure his release. What’s the situation right now? How are you responding to these denials? Are these denials expected every time, or is it a tragedy every time?
M. Khodorkovsky: For the individual it is, without a doubt, a tragedy every time; it’s a tragedy for his near and dears – although they understand everything, they still have hope of course. What’s more, to date we already have two European Court of Human Rights judgments, both stating that Pichugin’s right to a fair trial was violated. What does it mean that the right to a fair trial was violated? It means there was no trial. What I mean is, if there was no fair trial, then there was no trial at all. And, accordingly, he can’t be deemed guilty.
After all, we do have a presumption of innocence, and until a person’s guilt is proven at a fair trial, he is innocent. And this innocent person has been behind bars for 17 years now; without admitting his guilt of course. I believe this is a very courageous person. Naturally, when I was released, I told him (through lawyers of course) that he can make any statements at all, whatever they dictate to him, and sign them if he so decides. And he said: “I can’t allow myself to do that.”
So until the authorities realize it’s of less benefit to them to keep him in jail than to let him out, they will keep him in jail, naturally. From that point of view, the pardon denials are very important – they show to the international community, to those sitting across from Putin at the negotiating table, to the European legal community, that the Russian authorities, Vladimir Putin personally couldn’t care less about the agreements they sign. They signed an agreement stating we acknowledge the European Court of Human Rights’ authority, but then later, whenever the Russian authorities need to, they completely disregard this European Court of Human Rights’ judgments. The Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers noted it several times. That’s important because people in Europe realize they are dealing with a person, a power whose word can’t be trusted – be it a spoken word or a written word.
Source: Echo of Moscow
