Kafkaesque. The former Russian oil tycoon, who stood up to Putin, is back before his judges. Here is the story. [The following is a translation of an article published in the French publication Le Point.]

Le Point, October 15, 2009

Accused Khodorkovsky, Stand Up!

From our special envoy Marc Nexon

He stands up, opens his spiral notebook and pulls out 3 sheets of paper he has scribbled with his fine handwriting. He pats the microphone installed in his glass cage. "Can you hear me?" he asks, addressing the judge. Then he starts with a clear voice: "I know that in his eyes I embody absolute evil, but I would like to ask quietly a few questions to the witness of the prosecution..."

Political advisory Gleb Pavlovsky has given an extensive interview resulting in two separate articles in the Financial Times, one of which includes commentary about how he believes President Dmitry Medvedev sees the second trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky (a horrendous travesty of law) and what he may do about it (probably nothing, in his opinion).

Most substantively, Mr Pavlovsky said that Medvedev disagrees with the second prosecution of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon who was arrested for tax evasion in 2003.

Most observers say the cases are politically motivated revenge by Mr Putin's entourage. Now Mr Khodorkovsky is on trial once again for roughly the same charges.

"This [the second Khodorkovsky prosecution] is an extremely dubious procedure," said Mr Pavlovsky. "Politically, it is hideous, absurd. Medvedev received this by way of inheritance. I think those who