Overview

Mikhail Khodorkovsky is the founder of the Open Russia movement. A successful businessman, Khodorkovsky was head of YUKOS, one of the world’s largest oil producers, where he established international management codes of practice, and substantially increased production. A pioneering philanthropist, he established the Open Russia Foundation in 2001 with the aim of building and strengthening civil society in Russia. An early supporter of democratic change, at a televised meeting with President Putin in early 2003, he criticised endemic corruption. Later that same year he was arrested, and jailed on charges of tax evasion and fraud, charges, which he denied and vigorously defended. Khodorkovsky was sentenced to fourteen years in prison. He was declared a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International; and finally released in December 2013. In 2014, the Hague Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled that the Russian Government had violated international law by taking YUKOS from its shareholders, for political purposes, described as a “full assault on Yukos and its beneficial owners in order to bankrupt Yukos and appropriate its assets while, at the same time, removing Mr. Khodorkovsky from the political arena.” Today, Khodorkovsky advocates an alternative vision for his country: a strong and just state, committed to observing human rights, free and fair elections, and the rule of law.

The event will be held in a form of a dialogue, starting with a short introduction on Russian political past and future, followed by questions from the audience. The main topics of the discussion will be Russian political regime, role of Russian existing opposition, future elections, role of Russia in Europe and the World, and M Khodorkovsky's work towards the better future. 

Tickets on sale from 21st April -

Student Early Bird - £12 - Until 1st May 

Student General Admission - £17

Student First Rows - £25

Money raised from the event will go to development purposes of the KCL Russian-Speaking society.

This is a student group event oranised by KCL Russian Speaking Society.