RUSSIA-PUSSY/RIOT-KHODORKOVSKY

Moscow, August 6 (Interfax) – Former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky has called the Pussy Riot trial, which is being held in the Moscow Khamovnichesky Court, where his second sentence was also handed out, “medieval inquisition.”

“It hurts me to follow the events taking place in the Khamovnichesky Court, where Masha, Katya, and Nadya are being tried. The word ‘tried’ can only be used here in the sense in which medieval inquisitors used it,” Khodorkovsky said in a statement posted on the official website of his press center.

“I am very ashamed and hurt. Not for these young women, youth can be forgiven for mistakes of radicalism, but for the state, which is shamelessly defaming out Russia,” he said.

“We have been deprived of a fair and independent trial and of the ability to defend ourselves and defend people from lawlessness. However, having learnt the names of those who commit arbitrariness – in the streets, in shops, and in theaters – for money and privileges, we can clearly explain to them and to the people around is why we don’t respect them and why we don’t want to help them with anything and why we will, on the contrary, resist them in every little thing. That’s the way to keep respect for yourself. I am calling on all thinking, educated and just good and kind people to send words of hope to the girls,” he said.

Khodorkovsky has been sentenced to a total of 13 years in prison. Three Pussy Riot activists face up to seven years in prison for their stunt in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior.

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11:24:30 EET-2