Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[Amaunet]

Another problem connected to YUKOS—the issue of buying seats in the Duma—has been noticeably less discussed. YUKOS is accused of not limiting its lobbying to “one-time” deals, but generously “sponsoring” various parties to cobble together its own Duma “faction.” Other oligarchs do similar things, but not on the same scale as YUKOS. Even if the numerical estimates of big business’ penetration of parliament are highly exaggerated, something serious needs to be done immediately. We believe that this should be done systematically, by adopting laws that severely limit both large contributions to party coffers from both major corporations and individual lobbyists.

http://www.gateway2russia.com/st/art_164082.php

This is how generously they were sponsoring.

The Russian president and the former secret police members who now dominate his staff struck at Khodorkovsky when it became clear that the billionaire was preparing to spend $100 million to win a large bloc of seats in Duma elections next month and eventually to run for the presidency himself. Putin's idea of democracy seems to be holding elections

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/147219_hoagland7.html

Exxon Mobil originally meant to buy a controlling interest in Yukos, only later did they back down to 40%.

Therefore the merger in its original intent would have given Exxon Mobil, a foreign entity, seats in Duma.

The sovereignty of Russia was being challenged albeit in a small way but nevertheless a precedent Putin could not ignore. The laws should be changed. Khodorkovsky was plotting against his own country.