World's Leading Newspapers Demand President Medvedev Free Khodorkovsky and Lebedev
- "Putin's Imperial Russia"
The Los Angeles Times, by Garry Kasparov, May 10, 2008
Kasparov comments: “[President Medvedev] must free the long list of political prisoners who were jailed as Putin developed his dictatorship by KGB cronyism. Mikhail Khodorkovsky and other members of the Yukos Oil Co. management are the most prominent names…” - "Mr. Medvedev's Rule"
The Washington Post, May 8, 2008
The Washington Post calls on President Medvedev to “end the use of the law as a weapon" against Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
- "Enter, Pursued by a New Bear"
The Economist, May 8, 2008
The Economist suggests that if President Medvedev “gave parole to Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an oligarch imprisoned without even a pretence at a fair trial,” Western leaders would approach relations with Russia in a “friendly fashion.” - "Berlusconi Should Ask Moscow to Free Khodorkovsky"
Corriere della Serra, by Franco Ventruini, May 7, 2008
Ventruini says new Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi is in an optimal position to ask President Medvedev to free Khodorkovsky. He comments: “Leaving Khodorkovsky in prison would make it difficult to state that Russia is abiding by the rule of law."
- "The President and the Prisoner"
The International Herald Tribune, by Eckart von Klaeden, May 2, 2008
Klaeden underlines that German Chancellor Merkel would warmly welcome the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and comments: “[Khodorkovsky’s] fate will send a signal about the direction in which Medvedev intends to - or is able to - lead Russia."
- "Confront the Kremlin"
The International Herald Tribune, by Oksana Chelysheva, April 4, 2008
Chelysheva says political prisoners such as Mikhail Khodorkovsky are becoming a common reality in Russia and demands President Bush stand up to President Medvedev, Russia’s oppressor.
