Marshall Goldman, Christopher Stewart, and Robert Amsterdam were featured on an hour-long discussion on Russia for Tom Ashbrook's show On Point. Listen to the broadcast here.
Russia, Riches, and the LawAired: Thursday, July 24, 2008 10-11AM ET
By host Tom Ashbrook
Mikhail Khodorkovsky was the richest man in Russia. Multi-billionaire. Oil-rich oligarch. No saint, but no worse a sinner, maybe, than many other Russian oligarchs.
Then he crossed Vladimir Putin. Ended up in a cage, on trial, and then in a prison in Siberia. Gilded life -- gone.
Now, an American attorney is fighting to free Khodorkovsky. He says it's Russia on trial here -- and whether or not a now oil-rich Kremlin believes in the rule of law.
His story is a legal thriller where losers end up in Siberia, or dead. And the answers ripple well beyond Russia.This hour, On Point: Russia, riches, and the law.
Guests
· Christopher Stewart, contributing editor at Portfolio magazine and author of the recent profile of Robert Amsterdam, "Enemy of the State," in the magazine's August issue
· Robert Amsterdam, the lead legal strategist in the campaign to free Mikhail Khodorkovsky, he's an attorney specializing in "cause lawyering" and property rights in emerging markets and author of a blog on global politics.
· Marshall Goldman, professor of economics emeritus at Wellesley College and author of "Petrostate: Putin, Power and the New Russia."
Au contraire.
Even if Mr. K were released tomorrow, it certainly wouldn't show Russia believes in the rule of law. I think you make a very serious error, betraying the democratic movement in Russia and giving the Kremlin a perfect opportunity for a propaganda charade, by suggesting otherwise. Much, much more would be required to indicate that Russia has the intention to become a civilized state.
First, Mr. K would have to have his property returned.
Then, he'd have to be paid compensation for being unjustly imprisoned.
Finally, he'd have to return to political activism, calling for massive changes in the way Russia is governed.
Anything less than that would only be a sham.