The following is the full text of Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s public statement before his parole hearing today, which has since been delayed.

“HONOURABLE COURT, YOUR HONOUR,” I am submitting this parole application to you because I believe that the positive decision on this issue will be just and lawful in all respects: for the society, for which I can do much more good if I am free than if I am in jail, for my family, and for myself. THE FORMAL REQUIREMENT allowing [the court] to make a decision to release me on parole has been met since I have served more than a half of the sentence given to me. The main and substantive requirement the existence of which the court should establish lies in the absence of the need to continue serving the sentence any further. And this requirement has been met in full conformance with the spirit and letter of Law.