Khodorkovsky called for Girkin’s acquittal – The Moscow Times Russian Service

Politician Mikhail Khodorkovsky, following Alexei Navalny, called the arrest of the former FSB officer Igor Strelkov (Girkin) illegal.

“Expressing any opinion, even extremely unpleasant, is not a crime, which means that the current accusation against Girkin is unlawful and makes him a politically persecuted person in Russia. And on this charge he must be acquitted, ”wrote the oppositionist in the telegram channel.

At the same time, Khodorkovsky stressed that Strelkov is a criminal “according to the decision of the Dutch court regarding the shooting down of a civilian plane.” In addition, at the request of the Kremlin, he participated in the “armed provocation” in Ukraine in 2014, the politician recalled.

Khodorkovsky also compared Strelkov to the head of the PMC Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, saying that if the latter were tried for his speech “about the causes of the war with Ukraine”, he would oppose such accusations. At the same time, the oppositionist recalled that Prigozhin allegedly “ordered” his murder.

“Some have forgotten that he publicly announced an ‘order’ for me. And the order has not been canceled. If I’m in his sights, I think he’ll press the hook without hesitation. Mutually,” Khodorkovsky wrote.

Strelkov was detained on July 21 on charges of extremism because of two posts on his social networks. He pleaded not guilty. He faces up to five years in prison.

Earlier, Navalny called Strelkov a political prisoner. An imprisoned opposition activist said Strelkov’s arrest was based on a fictitious and fabricated extremism case, which he called “a ridiculous and obviously politically motivated accusation.”

According to the politician, Girkin should be tried for all crimes committed during the fighting in Ukraine. Navalny recalled that Strelkov had already been sentenced in absentia by a Dutch court to life imprisonment for the crash of a Malaysia Airlines plane in Donetsk region in July 2014. He emphasizes, however, that the current arrest of Girkin is not related to the crimes he committed, but is a tool to protect the interests of the authorities and suppress criticism of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and President Vladimir Putin.

“Of course, criticism of Strelkov is criticism of the right. He scolded the cannibals for their lack of appetite. And he gave advice on how to eat people better. And what is the right way to wage an illegal, aggressive and stupid war,” Navalny said.