Khodorkovsky refuses to join Russian opposition Coordination Council

Imprisoned former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky has refused to enter the Russian protest movement's Coordination Council citing his present situation.

"I would like to thank all those who find me worthy of a role in the new structure. However, I decided not to nominate myself as a candidate for the Coordination Council primarily because my present situation will not allow me to be useful in tackling the practical tasks facing the Coordination Council," Khodorkovsky said in a statement posted on his press center's website.

"Firstly, the fledgling Coordination Council will help consolidate civil society and, secondly, will become a genuine collegial entity, which will demonstrate an effective democratic alternative to the current personalistic regime," he said.

"In my opinion, the Coordination Council's most important role will be to look for a format for non-stop dialogue between opposition politicians and protest activists, "Bolotnaya Square" in the broad sense of his geographic name. I do not rule out that the council will also be able to find forms of interaction with the Kremlin in order to get the message of "the angry citizens" through to the existing authorities clearly and exhaustively," Khodorkovsky said.

"Bolotnaya Square's" credit of trust for any politicians is quite limited. That is why the Coordination Council will assume great responsibility for strengthening this trust," he said.

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