Kafkaesque. The former Russian oil tycoon, who stood up to Putin, is back before his judges. Here is the story. [The following is a translation of an article published in the French publication Le Point.]

Le Point, October 15, 2009

Accused Khodorkovsky, Stand Up!

From our special envoy Marc Nexon

He stands up, opens his spiral notebook and pulls out 3 sheets of paper he has scribbled with his fine handwriting. He pats the microphone installed in his glass cage. “Can you hear me?” he asks, addressing the judge. Then he starts with a clear voice: “I know that in his eyes I embody absolute evil, but I would like to ask quietly a few questions to the witness of the prosecution…” Mikhail Khodorkovsky, 46 years old, formerly the richest man of Russia, has a pale face and his gray hair is cut short. He is wearing a black sweatshirt, rather wide jeans, and a belt made of a red thin cord and has plastic shoes on. After each question he takes a sip of water. He smiles. He savours the moment. He will need only 30 minutes to dismantle the charge against him that is the theft of 350 million tons of oil between 1998 and 2003. It is almost the equivalent of the annual Russian oil production! A grotesque charge at the heart of a trial opened seven months ago. This trial’s aim is to maintain behind bars the former oil tycoon, who has become the most famous political prisoner of Russia.