CASE OF MIKHAIL KHORDORKOVSKY

That this House recognises the concern expressed by the Government in the Answer from the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of 9th March 2005, Official Report, column 1890W, on the Russian Federation's progress towards market-based democracy; notes that the founder of the Yukos oil company is in a Russian prison after what was described by The Times newspaper and world's media as a `show trial'; further notes that the Russian government obtained the assets in a way that did not follow the procedures of Russian law and that major investors in the United States refuse to participate in the sale of these assets; further notes that the flotation will take place on the London Stock Exchange; and calls upon the UK Government to block this sale until Mr Khordorkovsky is free from prison in Siberia and able to pursue his claim to these assets.