Will Khodorkovsky's Case Be Raised in Davos?

Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will deliver the keynote address at the first plenary session of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday, January 26, RIA Novosti reported.

Human rights groups are hoping that companies attending a panel discussion on modernization with the Russian leader will find a way to raise the case of two prominent businessmen, Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. Their case was the subject of an appeal last year by the Jacob Blaustein Institute and four other human rights groups.

JBI recently renewed the call for the release of Khodorkovsky and Platonov last month, citing numerous violations of due process and raising serious questions about selective prosecution.

For the first time in the practice of the Davos meetings, Medvedev will answer three selected questions sent via the Internet, Voice of Russia reported.

Medvedev will spend January 27, the second day of the Davos forum, speaking with potential investors in Russia’s market at a session on modernization. Western companies said to be planning to send representatives include PepsiCo, Alstom, Boeing, Deutsche Bank, Siemens and others, Voice of Russia reported.The Russian leader is expected to discuss Skolkovo, a new Kremlin-sponsored hi-tech research center outside of Moscow described as "Russia's Silicon Valley".

Critics have said such state-controlled innovation may be counterproductive and have raised questions about intellectual freedom in Russia.

Voice of America reported that Medvedev plans to seek investment at Davos. Presidential economic advisor Arkady Dvorkovich confirmed to reporters January 21 that the Russian president will speak twice in Davos, and even acknowledged that the recent second sentence given Khodorkovsky could have a negative impact on investment in Russia.

Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev were sentenced to an additional six years in prison on December 30 on charges of fraud and embezzlement, after already spending eight years behind bars.