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What do you know about Mikhail Khodorkovsky? Irkutsk, October, 2009
Woman, 18: Yes.
And where is he now?
No, I cannot say.
Interviewer: What do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 18: I know that he is a victim of our government.
And do you know where he is now?
I don’t know in what prison he is now,
but I know that there is a protracted hearing.
He was in prison for a very long time in Chita,
and now he has been transferred to Moscow
and they are going to sentence him to another 20 years.
How do you view that?
Well, on the whole, I guess, negatively.
Interviewer: Do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Man, 40: Well, in principle, yes.
And what have you heard about him?
He is an okay guy;
he simply decided to tread the ground of politics.
Interviewer: What do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 16: Is it the one who made movies
or the one who was on trial?
Who was on trial.
Well, he was put in prison somewhere near here.
And that’s all, I guess.
Interviewer: What do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 30: The name sounds familiar.
He was a businessman. Yukos.
Right. And why “was”?
He is now serving a term.
Ah, I see.
Have you heard anything about him?
Not much, only what the media reported.
Man, 28: That’s an entrepreneur, I guess.
What have you heard about him?
He had some problems with the law, nothing else.
He is serving a term in prison,
and now they are going to sentence him to another 20 years.
What do you think about it?
Well, I think he should give enough money to the right person
to cut his term or eliminate it altogether.
Do you think that will help?
Well, he’s got the money;
I guess, the problem may be solved.
Interviewer: What do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 25: I know that he is a former oligarch, the head of Yukos,
if I’m not mistaken.
And do you know where he is now?
Well, somewhere in prison.
In 2011 his term expires, and now he is in Moscow,
and they want to sentence him to another 20 years.
What do you think about it?
Well, in general, frankly speaking,
I am against Putin’s policy against Khodorkovsky.
Well, I am against such things,
because I support him.
And what do you think about the charges against him?
I believe they are a bit removed from reality.
Interviewer: What do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 16: He’s a politician.
And do you know where he is now?
Man, 16: In prison, I think.
Interviewer: What do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 60: Of course, I know;
he is one of the oligarchs.
But, frankly speaking, my attitude toward him is negative.
Why so?
They tore, as that author wrote, what’s his name,
my memory is not as good as it used to be,
well, he wrote a very good article in a major newspaper.
He wrote a very good article that seven Jews,
when Russia was falling apart,
all seven Jews found themselves next to the cake,
and they all tore it to pieces, taking each a good big chunk.
Gusinskiy, Khodorkovsky, Berezovskiy, and so on.
He wrote, addressing himself to them,
“Guys, give back what belongs to Russia.”
A new court hearing is currently under way,
and they are going to sentence him to another 20 years.
Do you approve of that.
Well, if he gave back it all to us, to Russia,
each one would get at least something, to buy medicines, to buy food.
Then he might be spared.
Interviewer: Do you know about Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 50: No, well, it rings a bell, but no.
Interviewer: Have you heard anything about Mikhail Khodorkovsky?
Woman: 16: We have.
And what have you heard?
They said in the news that he was very rich,
went against the government, got tired of running,
and went to prison.
He is now in Moscow,
and they are going to sentence him to another 20 years.
Why? Why does he need more?
How do you view him in general?
But he already had a long sentence.
So they want to add to that?
I think enough is enough.
Maybe you want to wish him something?
Peace, dude.
Interviewer: Have you heard anything about Mikhail Khodorkovsky?
Woman, 50: Yes, former Gazprom or something like that.
And do you know what he used to do and where he is now?
He is in prison in Chita, I think, or has he been freed?
He is now in Moscow,
and they are going to sentence him to another 20 years.
What do you think about it?
You know that with our justice system,
I don`t believe that he has been stealing a lot
and believe that he did not steal.
So that’s the way it is.
Maybe you want to wish him something?
I would like to wish him something,
but it’s too late already.
In his time, he did not have the right attitude toward
what the state wanted to receive from him.
If he had been a little softer,
well, the state wanted to receive from him a certain amount of taxes,
but he did not accept is as due.
That, probably, destroyed him,
because those who are in Gazprom today…
they do not steal anything.
They realized in time where to turn, and that saved them.
Interviewer: Do you know who Mikhail Khodorkovsky is?
Man, 35: No, I don’t.
Interviewer: Do you know who Mikhail Khodorkovsky is?
Yes.
And what have you heard about him?
Nothing positive.
He is now in Moscow,
and they want to sentence him to another 20 years.
What do you think about it?
They can give him more.
Interviewer: Do you know who Mikhail Khodorkovsky is?
Man, 45: A cheater, a thief,
like all those in power in our country.
Woman, 20: Heard something.
And what specifically have you heard?
Well, that he is a wheeler-dealer.
It’s the former head of Yukos,
and now he is in prison.
Ah, you want people to say hi to him?
Woman, 40: Khodorkovsky?! Well, I’ve heard something.
And what have you heard about him?
Nothing special.
And what is he? A politician?
What politician? Something relating to oil.
He has served eight years,
and they are going to add 20…
Right, I’ve heard that.
And what do you think about it?
Of curse, I am against it.
Interviewer: Do you know who Mikhail Khodorkovsky is?
Woman, 22: Well, I’ve heard about him but don’t know.
Interviewer: Do you know who Mikhail Khodorkovsky is?
Man, 18: Yes.
And what have you heard about him?
Well, a former deputy, as far as I recall,
who is now in prison.
And what has he been put in prison for?
My personal opinion is that he did not give money
to the right people and went to prison as a result.
But I’ve heard that he is a good person.
It simply so happened that he went against the system.
They are going to sentence him to another 20 years.
What do you think about it?
Well, I don’t know, I cannot judge about the man
because I don’t know his dealings,
whether or not it’s deserved,
but still I think that it is right.
Woman, 22: Well, yes, I’ve heard about him.
What is he? Do you know?
Isn’t he an actor?
No, he isn’t, he’s a businessman.