MIKHAIL KHODORKOVSKY AND POLITICAL PRISONERS IN RUSSIA

Early day motion 1853, tabled 24 May 2011 by Lord Bruce of Bennachie (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 18 members.

That this House expresses deep concern following the decision made by the Moscow City Court in the appeal of political prisoners Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev; notes that the appeal was the last legal channel available to Khodorkovsky and Lebedev to seek justice within the Russian legal system; further notes many political prisoners in Russian jails have all but lost faith in the current Russian legal system; calls on the British Government to urge President Medvedev to work to reform the Russian legal system and to make good on his promise to eradicate legal nihilism in Russia; further calls on the Government to consider sanctions such as restricting visas for those involved in human rights abuses; and furthercalls on the Government to work with its European partners to strengthen the role of the European Court of Human Rights so that those political prisoners who seek justice before it will do so with confidence in a timely and fair judicial system.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 7, Labour 5, Conservative 3, Alliance 1, DUP 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.