Statement of International Society "Memorial" about arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky

We are deeply indignant at the demonstrative detention of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, YUKOS Company president, made in Novosibirsk by instructions of the prosecutor general's office. There is no doubt that gross political pressure is being exerted in such a way under cover of formal law, that the detention is an act of intimidation. This intimidation is directed not only at Khodorkovsky, but at every Russian citizen in fact.

Before "economic disputes" were aimed at the elimination of independent Russian media. Now an attack on the independent Russian business has been launched under the guise of the fight against "economic crimes" traced back 10 years. And this has happened those very days when the authority has made just another statement (in Nizhniy Novgorod) of its adherence to the development of civil society in Russia.

After the Civil Forum of 2001 its participant Grigory Pasko was demonstratively arrested. And at the height of the Russian Forum of 2003 the active participator in public dialogue, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was detained on his path from Nizhniy Novgorod to Irkutsk in the same demonstrative way.

Is it possible under such conditions to speak about any constructive dialogue and what is more - about an "agreement" between the society and power? The country where there is no civil control over the security agencies and law-enforcement organs can hardly pretend to be called a democratic one.

Under existing conditions the only thing we can hope for is the development of dialogue within the society - between independent citizens, independent non-government organizations, independent trade unions, independent business associations, and independent political parties. Only by joint efforts, the way out of today's situation, when Russia more and more looks like that country in which many of us had lived for decades, can be found.

Board of the International Society "Memorial"

Moscow, October 25, 2003, 3:30 p.m.