Today the Moscow Simonovsky court released property belonging to the deceased Yukos lawyer Vasily Alexanyan, which the court had previously seized. The property includes Alexanyan’s home and cars. The prosecution has ten days to appeal against the decision to release the property. If the prosecution does not appeal, Vasily Alexanyan’s family will be able to determine the legal fate of the freed property.

Alexanyan died on October 3, 2011 after being denied essential medical treatment during his pre-trial detention. Since his death the Simonovsky court twice released his property at the request of his family, in December 2011 and May 2012. However, both times the prosecution went to the Moscow City Court to appeal against its release. It remains to be seen whether the prosecution will appeal this time, and once again prevent the return to Alexanyan’s family of property belong to a man who died at the hands of Russia’s obstructive legal system.