Khodorkovsky Meets with European Parliament on Ukraine

April 18, 2014
Photo credit: European Parliament

Mikhail Khodorkovsky has visited the European institutions in Strasbourg to thank supporters who campaigned over many years for his release from prison, and to pledge his commitment to promoting dialogue on the crisis in Ukraine.

Khodorkovsky’s meeting with Martin Schulz MEP, president of the European Parliament, comes ten months after his son, Pavel, met Schulz in Brussels to press for Khodorkovsky’s release.

In a 45-minute meeting, Khodorkovsky and Schulz discussed the evolving situation in Ukraine, considered the country’s immediate and long-term prospects and noted the importance of the comprehensive and sustained support of the European Union for Ukraine.

Earlier, Khodorkovsky met Anne Brasseur, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, to thank her for her constant and active support during his decade of injustice.

He spoke about his efforts to promote dialogue and understanding among Russian and Ukrainian intellectual leaders as a tool for de-escalating the situation – efforts that will take a further step forward with the launch of “Ukraine-Russia: the Dialogue” in Kyiv next week, under the banner of Khodorkovsky’s Open Russia Foundation.

Khodorkovsky also had dinner with MEP supporters, expressing his gratitude for their determination to see him released. Among those attending was Elmar Brok, chairman of the European Parliament foreign affairs committee, and Hans van Baalen, president of Liberal International.

Khodorkovsky told the MEPs at the dinner that he looked forward to work closely with them on issues of mutual interest.