It took the former Yukos proprietor three hours on end to tell, in a free-and-easy way, about his past managerial routine, and make statements on particular indictment items.
Whatever the Prosecutor General's men are accusing him Mr. Khodorkovsky called a pack of blatant lies.
He answered questions from the defense and the judge. The latter inquired, in particular, about the defendant's contacts with Vladimir Moiseyev and Natalia Chernyshova-both on the "wanted" list.
Khodorkovsky had the following to say about the former: "I know Moiseyev since we went to school together. We were also together on the Open Russia organization, engaging in public activities. He was offering trust services to third persons, and never made a secret of it."
As for Chernyshova, former Menatep bank employee, he said he had never had any business contacts with her.
Dmitri Shokhin, prosecution, chose not to ask the defendant a single question. "Whatever Khodorkovsky has said is an utter lie his legal advisers cooked up for him. I have no questions to ask," he remarked.
Yuri Schmidt, of the defense, hit back by asking the court to demand from the counsel for the prosecution to specify whom of the lawyers he meant as liars.
Khodorkovsky's questioning is over. Neither the court nor the defense or prosecution have any more questions to ask him.
The questioning of Platon Lebedev, Menatep finance group CEO, is due Monday, February 28. "I shall be ready to make a statement by Monday," he reassured.
