Opposition rally supports Russian 'political prisoners'

These include the company's former head Mikhail Khodorkovsky and its vice-president Vasily Aleksanyan.

The latter has been diagnosed with AIDS, cancer and tuberculosis. Officials say he has been transferred to a specialist clinic, which is being questioned by the protesters.

“Aleksanyan was practically dying in prison and has been transferred to a civilian clinic where he is receiving no one knows what kind of treatment – neither his relatives nor his lawyers are allowed to see him. It shows the current government is not prepared to ease the regime and will keep cracking down on its opponents,” said one of the protesters.