The Financial Times has published some comments from Mikhail Khodorkovsky requesting President Barack Obama’s support for rule of law in Russia during the state visit.

In comments to the Financial Times relayed over the weekend, Mr Khodorkovsky called on Mr Obama to throw his support behind an independent court system in Russia.

He said Russia was now facing a “moment of truth” when it could choose between building a modern innovative economy and civil society or a “fortress of raw materials” and authoritarianism.