Court refuses to release Platon Lebedev on parole
VELSK. July 27 (Interfax) - The Velsk District Court in Arkhangelsk region has refused to support the motion for the release of former Menatep CEO Platon Lebedev on parole.
The court examined the arguments of the defense that spoke of the need to release Lebedev, a reference from corrective institution No. 14 where Lebedev is serving his sentence and the opinion of the prosecutor's office.
The defense produced a letter from Platon Levedev's daughter. The court also heard the evidence of his wife and brother as well as actress Natalia Fateyeva and Novaya Gazeta Editor-in-Chief Dmitry Muratov, who said he was ready to hire Lebedev in case of his release on parole.
However, the prison administration did not support the motion for Lebedev's parole. "While he responds positively to correctional activities, he does not always perceive them adequately. He does not always observe the internal rules. He is aloof towards other prisoners. He has not pleaded guilty and believes his punishment is harsh and unfair. He repeatedly committed violations and has outstanding penalties. The administration believes that the inmate has failed to embark on the path of rectification," a prison official said in court on Tuesday.
He said the prison administration did not find it reasonable to grant the parole.
On May 24, 2011, the Moscow City Court reduced the punishment of Lebedev and former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky from 14 to 13 years of imprisonment. The term is counted as of 2003, when they were arrested in relation to the first Yukos case, which means they should be freed in 2016.
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev filed motions to be released on parole with Moscow's Preobrazhensky court, but their motions were returned. On July 24, the Velsk District Court received the motion for releasing Lebedev on parole.
