The following statement was released by Mikhail Khodorkovsky:

Today marks the 11th anniversary of Alexei Pichugin’s arrest. The Russian authorities charged the former chief of YUKOS’ internal economic security department with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder and he was sentenced to life in prison.

Not a day goes by that we do not think about Alexei. The [Russian] authorities turned Alexei, a man of iron will and unflinching character, into a bargaining chip in the YUKOS case. His criminal cases were brazenly and cynically framed by investigators, something that has been recognized, among others, by the ECHR. The Supreme Court of Russia has now ignored the Strasbourg court’s judgment for several years.

Pressure has been repeatedly brought on Alexei to force him to incriminate me and other YUKOS employees in exchange for freedom. However, while perfectly understanding what kind of suffering he is in for, Alexei has not wilted.

I am in awe as I witness Alexei’s and his family’s courage and I will not rest until Alexei regains his freedom.