The following is an exclusive translation from Novaya Gazeta, published on Monday, describing the pandemonium and absurdity which occurred during the Khodorkovsky trial on days 35-38.

“Your honor, why is the public laughing?”

Significant changes took place over the past week at the trial of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev: the judge became strict towards the procurators

Day thirty-five

…A tense situation developed in the Khamovnichesky Court on Monday [15 June] — the procurators, despite a demand from the judge, refused to disclose the origin of one of the pieces of evidence.

The incident occurred just before evening, when the discussion turned to the law firm of “ALM-Feldmans and partners,” which in the past had serviced the interests of YUKOS. In order to underscore the principality of the moment, it’s worth it to remind: the only reason for the transfer of the second case to the Khamovnichesky Court — the fact that “ALM-Feldmans” is found precisely in the jurisdiction of this court. Practically all the employees of this firm have been declared wanted. Still in the time of the first trial of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev, multitudinous searches and seizures of documents (including confidential ones) were carried out in “ALM-Feldmans” without the sanction of a court and observance of any guarantees of lawyers’ activity whatsoever [i.e. attorney-client privilege–Trans.].