The following is a press release being distributed today on behalf of the Mikhail Khodorkovsky defense team:

OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF ITALIAN PARLIAMENT
VOTE TO SUPPORT MIKHAIL KHORDOKOVSKY

Rome, September 23, 2009 – The Italian parliament today voted in favour of a motion urging the Italian Government “to activate all diplomatic channels, together with other European partners, to guarantee the respect for human rights and the right of defence for Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev and for all Russian citizens”. The motion, presented at the Lower Chamber by Pier Ferdinando Casini, leader of the Christian Democrat Party (UDC), received overwhelming support: out of 478 MPs attending the plenary session, 430 voted in favour. During the debate, Alfredo Mantica, Undersecretary of State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed support for the motion on behalf of the Government and called for unanimous adoption by all political groups. This builds on the statement of support made in May this year by Minister for Foreign Affairs and former EU Commissioner, Franco Frattini.