Reuters is reporting on the passage of a parliamentary motion from Chancellor Angela Merkel's party (the CDU), as well as coalition partners in the SPD, which states that the trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky will be observed from Berlin as a critical measurement and test of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev's promises to improve rule of law and the justice system.
"This trial is a test case of the Russian justice system's credibility, as demanded by President Medvedev, and the respect of Council of Europe standards," the paper reads.
"There is concern that the trial will be used for political goals. If this were the case, the authorities would damage not only Russia's reputation, its economy and its diplomatic ties, but above all the legal and human rights principles that Russia itself has vowed to adhere to."
