MBK Speaks Out
On the day of his conviction and sentencing to nine years in prison, Mikhail Khodorkovsky declares his freedom has not been taken and that truth will inevitably prevail. Read his statement
MBK: A Leader in Business, Civics, Politics
Mikhail Khodorkovsky is best known as YUKOS Oil's visionary leader. He was the first Russian CEO to adopt Western financial practices and corporate governance accountability, transforming YUKOS into Russia's leading oil company.
Khodorkovsky's vision goes beyond business, however. He used his wealth to advance democratic, philanthropic and civic projects across Russia. He is unique among Russia's "oligarchs" for his strong passion for democracy and his courage - some might call it foolhardiness - in challenging Kremlin control over society. It was Khodorkovsky's natural interest in politics - including support for liberal parties prior to the 2002 Duma elections - that ultimately stirred the Kremlin's ire.
The Political Battle Against Khodorkovsky
Since July 2003, President Putin's government has waged a politically charged campaign against Khodorkovsky and YUKOS. Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev have been arrested. They are in jail pending the outcome of their joint trial on trumped-up charges of fraud and tax evasion.
Meanwhile, Russian authorities have seized YUKOS and are dismantling it. These events tell us that the rule of law, property rights, and human rights still are subservient to the Kremlin's control.
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Paradoxically,
Khodorkovsky is sitting in jail but thinks not about his company
but of the history of Russia. That's why he's in jail. He's
not in jail like a businessman. He's there like Nelson Mandela.
