Disgruntled Yukos shareholders are to push for international arbitration. They claim the Russian government acted illegally, and owes them up to $100 billion
Khodorkovsky sent to prison in Siberia, plans to complete PhD
Following his sentencing, ex-Yukos boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been sent to a jail in Siberia – YaG-14/10 to be precise, which is near Chita. His co-defendant, Platon Lebedev has been sent to a prison in the Arctic region of Yamalo-Nenets, 2,000 km north of Moscow. There is some concern about the legality of these moves, [...]
Khodorkovsky roundup
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former Yukos boss and now full-time jailbird, has been pretty busy over the past couple of weeks. Yesterday saw the beginning of an appeal against his conviction for tax fraud and, predictably, the day ended in farce. Cast your minds back to the original trial, earlier this year, and you’ll remember the [...]
Khodorkovsky on dry hunger strike
News is beginning to break that Mikhail Khodorkovsky is on a dry hunger strike – he is refusing all food and water – in support of his jailed colleague Platon Lebedev. Lebedev, who is thought to be ill, was placed into solitary confinement last week after allegedly refusing to take his daily walk. The BBC [...]
More on Khodorkovsky “will he won’t he?”
Lyndon has been writing more about Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and the speculation over whether he will – indeed, whether he can – run for a seat on the State Duma. Lyndon’s opinion is that he won’t be allowed to run, but hopes that he does: If they [the authorities] use clumsy enough methods (and based on [...]
Khodorkovsky to stand for election?
Jailed Yukos boss Mikhail Khodorkovsky has announced that he is considering standing for election to the State Duma in an upcoming by-election. "I am absolutely confident that they will not allow me to run. But if I receive letters from people whose opinions are important for me, I will agree, even being aware of the [...]
Khodorkovsky verdict adjourned – again
We’re now two days into the reading of the verdict against Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and the judge has had to adjourn again. Khodorkovsky remains in the legal limbo called (by me) "mostly guilty". In the absence of any final verdit, reporters have been filling copy by writing about the protests around the courthouse. Around 300 pro-Khodorkovsky [...]
Khodorkovsky back taxes paid
This is interesting – three Menatep shareholders have paid Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s $54 million tax debt in full. "My lawyers have informed me today that my friends decided to pay the claim laid against me and Platon Lebedev (head of Menatep), " Khodorkovsky said at trial. "I would like to stress that the payment does not [...]
Invest in Russia!
I occasionally moan about how President Putin’s mismanagement is putting companies off investing in Russia. Providing a counterweight to pessimists like me is Bill Cara, securities trader, global market strategist and blogger. He’s writing a series of posts on investing in Russia, with case studies on the energy and mineral industries. Helpfully, for stupid people [...]
Yuganskneftegaz money turns up!
Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov has revealed that $7.6 billion from the auction of Yukos subsidiary Yuganskneftegaz has been received from Rosneft and transferred into the state budget. However, Yuganskneftegaz sold for $9.3 billion, which means that $1.7 billion is currently unaccounted for. Alfa Bank chief strategist Chris Weafer said it looked like the missing $1.7 [...]