Russians are split over the case of a Jewish oil magnate standing trial at a Moscow court. According to a recent poll, 48 percent of Russians do not believe the trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, founder of the Yukos oil firm, will be fair. According to the survey, conducted by the Yuri Levada Analytical Center, an independent polling firm, 25 percent of Russians agree that the case was caused by the authorities’ desire to curb Khodorkovsky’s political influence. At the same time, 41 percent said Yukos should be nationalized and its founder sentenced to a long prison term. Khodorkovsky, Russia’s richest man, is being tried on multiple counts, including massive tax evasion and the theft of state property in dubious privatization schemes.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
