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Trial Observations  |   Fact finding

Trial Observation, 2009

An IBAHRI observer has been attending the hearings of the trial of Mikhail Khordokovsky, which commenced in Moscow in March 2009. 

Mikhail Khodorkovsky was once Russia’s richest man and the founder and former chief Executive of Yukos Oil. He was convicted in 2005, in controversial circumstances, of fraud and tax evasion and sentenced to eight years in prison. He is currently imprisoned in the Siberian penal colony of Chita. It has been contended that the trial was in retaliation for his support of opponents to President Putin. He was further charged in February, 2007, with embezzlement and money laundering. If convicted of these new charges, he faces as much as 15 more years in prison. He denies the charges.

A report detailing the findings of the observations will be released once the trial is completed.

T R I A L  O B S E R V A T I O N S

The IBAHRI sends independent experts to observe trials around the world. To see recent cases we have covered, click here. To browse our work by activity, click here.

Fact Finding, 2005

In June 2005, the IBA released a report opposing a proposal by the Russian Government to increase its power over judicial appointments following a high delegation visit to the country in April. 

The proposals would change the membership of the Supreme Qualification Collegium to give a majority of appointments to the Russian President.  This move had the potential to undermine the European Charter on the Statute for Judges, which requires membership of such bodies to be comprised of at least one half judges elected by their peers.  The IBA’s call for the proposals to be dropped is part of a wide-ranging report on the state of justice in Russia.

The delegation found a number of systemic issues which have had an adverse impact on the independence of the judiciary in the country and these findings are detailed in the below report.

Russia: IBA Opposes Government Proposal to Increase its Power over Judicial Appointments (June 2005)

• Read the press release in English
• Download the full report in Russian
• Download the full report in English

F A C T - F I N D I N G  A N D  R A P I D  R E S P O N S E  M I S S I O N S

The IBAHRI conducts visits on a regular basis to countries where there are signs of a deterioration of the rule of law. Click here for details on the countries we have visited. To browse our work by activity, click here.

For further information contact hri@int-bar.org