Western nations have expressed serious concerns about the second guilty verdict against the jailed Russian oil tycoon and opponent of Vladimir Putin, Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
‘We are troubled by the allegations of serious due process violations, and what appears to be an abusive use of the legal system for improper ends,’ White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said in a statement.
‘The apparent selective application of the law to these individuals undermines Russia's reputation as a country committed to deepening the rule of law.’
Mr Khodorkovsky and co-accused Platon Lebedev, already in prison on previous fraud charges, were convicted in a second trial on embezzlement and money laundering charges.
The head of the now-defunct Yukos oil giant insists the charges against him were politically motivated due to his support for Russia's opposition.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the verdict ‘raises serious questions about selective prosecution - and about the rule of law being overshadowed by political considerations.’
‘This and similar cases have a negative impact on Russia's reputation for fulfilling its international human rights obligations and improving its investment climate,’ the chief US diplomat said in a statement.
Germany led European criticism of the conviction, with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle saying he was ‘very worried’ by the verdict.
‘The way the trial has been conducted is extremely dubious and a step backward on the road toward a modernisation of the country,’ he said in a statement.
‘It is in the interest of our Russian partners to take these concerns seriously and to stand up for the rule of law, democracy and human rights.’
The European Union warned it would monitor Mr Khodorkovsky's sentencing, while the head of the European Parliament said the verdict pointed to ‘systemic problems’ with Russia's legal system.
‘The European Union will continue to follow developments very closely, including the forthcoming announcement of the sentence,’ chief European Union diplomat Catherine Ashton said.
‘As emphasised at the recent summit that took place on 7 December in Brussels, the EU expects Russia to respect its international commitments in the field of human rights and the rule of law.’
European Parliament head Jerzy Buzek said the Khodorkovsky case ‘has become an emblematic symbol of the systemic problems of the rule of law, legal nihilism and human rights in today's Russia.’
Once Russia's richest man, Mikhail Khodorkovsky's release on his first conviction was scheduled for next year, but then he was put on trial last year on charges of money laundering and embezzlement, deemed trumped-up by his supporters.
