Putin compared Khodorkovsky with Madoff

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is visiting France, was again forced to respond to the “inconvenient” questions from Western journalists. In particular, he was asked about the case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and recently died in jail lawyer Sergei Magnitsko.
“All that we have going on is within the law. We will obey the laws that exist in Russia. Of course, we will improve them, of course, we will always ensure that authorities, especially law enforcement agencies comply with these laws “, – Putin said the French journalist, and his words ITAR-TASS.
Premier recalled the series of high-profile cases in the West, where no one is surprised that for economic crimes, in particular for tax evasion, is appointed a severe punishment. But Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and does compared with the American swindler Bernard Madoff, who is serving a prison term of more than a hundred years.
“According to the famous so-called resonant cases, including those you mentioned, I would say the following: Mr. Maddoff in the United States received a lifetime, and no one sneezed. Everyone is saying – well, lad, it serves him right. Right now in the UK addressed the issue of extradition of the hacker. The damage he has caused millions of dollars, its going to give the United States where he faces 60 years in prison. What about it do not ask? ”
“As you recall, the 30-ies in the United States Al Capone was prosecuted for tax evasion formally, but in fact – for the whole set of crimes committed. But to prove tax evasion – and convicted under existing law”, – Putin said.
“We work on some of our defendants in criminal cases has damaged Russia’s billions of dollars – continued the Premier. – In addition, there is a claim in terms of just an attempt on the life and health of specific people in their so-called commercial activities, and these acts, these episodes were proved by the court. ”
With regard to the death Magnitsky, it reminded the prime minister, “if the lawyer was in detention, he was there not as a lawyer, but to him there were some claims (approx. NEWSru.com: the presumption of innocence, Sergei Magnitsky died innocent — no court decision against him was never brought, and “claim” in this case play no role). “That man died while in prison – it is a tragedy, very sorry. But I can not comment on anything here, because I do not know the details and I do not know what sort of claims were brought to this man,” — he said.
“Whatever people may be doing, their lives, their health should always be under the special protection of the state – continued the Premier. – If there are any crimes in this area, crimes related to the assassination attempt on the life, health, of course, they must be suppressed by the State. And we in Russia have always tried to do so and will continue to strive for this “- he stressed.