The Khodorkovsky affaire has been a big event in the media and was also criticised heavily at the time. Especially the Russian government moved into the interest of the critics. There were quite early signals that a Khodorkovsky case might develop. On the 2nd of July it started all off when Platon Lebedjew, partner in Yukos, and also the Menatep-Bank manager who was connected to Yukos moved into the spitfire of the state prosecution. At the beginning the case was about irregularities of privatisation process of a mine. That time Khodorkovsky was only invited as witness. But soon after the research process was widened into other areas of the Yukos firm. There were disagreements between the state oil firm Rosneft and Yukos about share packages of a Siberian oil firm. Platon Lebedjew was then on the 28th of July accused of tax fraud. Even at these early stages Khodorkovsky describes the whole actions against Yukos as part of a power struggle between rivalled sections around Putin. Therefore in this essay I am going to evaluate how much the government and Putin were involved in the affair and because of what reasons. Therefore I am going to focus on different theses.
Political reasons played an important role right from the beginning of the Yukos case. This became clear when Russian politicians started to comment on the case. At the beginning Wladimir Putin was not willing to interfere with the case: “In talks with the chairmen of the Russian trade union, and the association federation Arkadij Wolskij, Putin said that he would not care about Yukos and also would not put anyone into prison”. (Russland-Aktuell, 2003) Even after Khodorkovsky was imprisoned, Wladimir Putin kept still and did not interfere. He was asked to take part in a discussion about the Yukos affair where he did not agree to attend. He was against the interference of the government in the prosecutions actions. But there were different members of the government that interfered right at the beginning. Michail Kassjanow was prime minister at the time and pressured the government to release Lebedjew from prison. This proposal was not accepted by the prosecution system as they were against the political interference. The affaire was given a political dimension, which goes further than the juridical discussions.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Why was Mikhail Khodorkovsky sent to jail and his company bankrupted?
- Political Reasons
- Economic Reasons
- Khodorkovsky as a potential candidate for presidency
- Continuous fight for power in the Kreml
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay analyzes the reasons behind the imprisonment of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the CEO of Yukos, and the subsequent bankruptcy of the company. It explores various political and economic motives that may have contributed to this controversial event.
- The role of political power struggles in the Khodorkovsky affair.
- The potential economic motivations for the state's actions against Yukos.
- The perception of Khodorkovsky as a political threat to the Russian government.
- The dynamics of power within the Kremlin and the influence of different factions.
- The impact of the Khodorkovsky affair on Russian politics and the business environment.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Why was Mikhail Khodorkovsky sent to jail and his company bankrupted? - Introduces the Khodorkovsky affair and presents the initial stages of the case, including the arrest of Platon Lebedjew and the widening investigation into Yukos. It also highlights the potential political motives behind the actions taken against Khodorkovsky.
- Political Reasons - Examines the role of political motivations in the Khodorkovsky affair, focusing on the involvement of various political figures and the potential for political interference in the legal process. It discusses the perceived political threat posed by Khodorkovsky.
- Economic Reasons - Explores the potential economic motivations for the state's actions against Yukos, including the possibility of protecting Russian interests from foreign investment and the desire to maintain control over the country's natural resources.
- Khodorkovsky as a potential candidate for presidency - Analyzes the potential threat that Khodorkovsky posed to the government's power by considering his possible political aspirations and the perceived need for the Kremlin to secure its authority.
- Continuous fight for power in the Kreml - Discusses the ongoing power struggles within the Kremlin and the influence of various factions, highlighting the potential role of the military and security services in the Khodorkovsky affair.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The Khodorkovsky affair is a case study in the intricate interplay of politics, economics, and power in post-Soviet Russia. This essay examines key concepts such as political power struggles, economic nationalism, oligarchic influence, the role of the state in the economy, and the manipulation of the legal system. It explores themes of corruption, state control, and the pursuit of political dominance in the context of a turbulent transition period following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Mikhail Khodorkovsky and what happened to his company?
Mikhail Khodorkovsky was the CEO of Yukos, one of Russia's largest oil companies. He was imprisoned, and his company was subsequently bankrupted following a series of legal investigations and tax fraud accusations.
What were the primary political reasons for Khodorkovsky's arrest?
The arrest is often viewed as part of a power struggle between rival factions in the Kremlin. Khodorkovsky was perceived as a political threat to President Vladimir Putin, possibly as a future presidential candidate.
What economic motives might the Russian state have had against Yukos?
Economic motives included the desire for the state to regain control over natural resources and to prevent large share packages of Russian oil firms from falling under foreign influence.
How did Vladimir Putin publicly react to the Yukos affair initially?
Initially, Putin claimed he would not interfere in the case, stating it was a matter for the prosecution and the legal system, though critics argue the government was deeply involved behind the scenes.
Who was Platon Lebedev in the context of this case?
Platon Lebedev was a partner in Yukos and the manager of Menatep Bank. His arrest in July 2003 on charges of tax fraud and irregularities in a privatization process triggered the wider investigation into Yukos.
What does the 'Khodorkovsky affair' reveal about the Russian legal system?
The case is often cited as an example of the manipulation of the legal system for political purposes and the state's increasing control over the economy in post-Soviet Russia.
- Arbeit zitieren
- BSc Daniel Döring (Autor:in), 2006, Why was Mikhail Khodorkovsky sent to jail and his company bankrupted?, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/79532
