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Supreme Court annuls 2003 arrest of former Yukos executive
Published: 23 December, 2009, 20:51
Edited: 24 December, 2009, 23:31
Russia's Supreme Court has ruled that the 2003 arrest of former Yukos executive Platon Lebedev was illegal on procedural grounds and must be annulled. The decision will have no impact on his imprisonment, however.
It is good thing that Russia's courts are reading the laws careful but Russia must press ahead until it recovers as much of the wealth of the nation which has been systematically looted by oligarchs and thieves.
It's important Russia sticks to the rule of law, it must always be our goal to work towards as good an implementation as possible. Yes we were looted by the crooks, but we need go after the thieves in a fully legal transparent way. There are issues with external biased courts, but if we want to free ourselves from them, we also need do it in a fully legal and transparent way. You cannot beat criminality, by becoming a criminal yourself.
European Court seems to have different justice depending on the wealth of a client. In this case, a procedural issue was considered more important then the substance of the crime. Fine. And what about thousands of migrants accross Europe that are not only illegaly detained, transported, exported and deported God knows where? Who will be underwriting their cry for justice and the trampling of their rights? And what about the victims of human trafficking, majority of whom become enslaved by the prostitution industry in the very dignified Western countries? Is it not true that every police station, and every policeman in every European city knows of the fate of these poor girls, but are more then happy to ignore their cries for help? And what about those poor thousands that disappeaer into the Europe's darkest hole, the organ harvesting in Kosovo, Albania and the transit country Italy? And what about those countless doctors and hospitals that close their eyes at the crimes they must know have been committed to save the lives of their patients? But in Europe, it is Russia obsession. It will be a good idea to start a CONTEST, as get at many people to offer their views on the following: European Russia obsession: what causes it?
It is will be shame if Russia yields to Western pressure and go easy on those who brought ruination to the nation. I say keep pressing until you recover the wealth these thieves looted by wicked measn. Make no mistake. The oligarchs are not done- they want to get what is left of Russian natural resources!
Why do they need to stay in jail any longer? They have lost everything to the government. Keeping them in jail is the only way to control them. Is it illegal? who knows, but my bet is they will be convicted again of the same exact crime. "Double Jeopardy" If the state can keep them in jail till they die, it gets to keep it all, and the problem of the 300 to 600 billion dollar ruling against the government can be used as a bargaining tool. Either these two guys will die in prison, or they will survive long enough for the EU high court to seize 300 to 600 billion dollars worth of Russian assets all over the world and be out of jail. Who will have the last victory on this one?
Stephanie R, there are widely documented evidence that the mass looting of Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union had strong connection with western nations, banks, corporations and institutions. Russia should keep on the hunt and keep following the trails of money transfer and recover the lost wealth of the nation. Also these looters and their western backers still have burning desire to regain their lost powers and would restart their looting spree if Russia's political leadership weavers or bow down to western hypocritical false tears for these looters.
Don't let these guy out, that's all I know. They robbed Russia during Yeltsin era and their place is in jail.