Supporters of Mikhail Khodorkovsky gathered at New York City’s Hudson Terrace yesterday evening to celebrate his 50^th birthday. Khodorkovsky’s son and Institute of Modern Russia President Pavel Khodorkovsky, opened the celebration with well wishes for his father and a promise that he would share guests’ support with him before introducing former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, who addressed the crowd of nearly 100. His remarks touched on Russia’s deteriorating rule of law under President Putin and his wish for Mikhail that his next birthday be spent as a free man.

In attendance were members of Khodorkovsky’s family, activists, U.S. and Russian media, and representatives of the Institute of Modern Russia. Pavel presented guests with a cake made for his father that read, “Happy Birthday, Mikhail! NYC Loves You” in Russian, and later blew out 50 candles in his absence; supporters also signed cards as part of a global birthday-message campaign to show support from New York.