Yury Schmidt, the head lawyer of former Yukos owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky's defense team and a renowned human rights activist, died in St. Petersburg on Saturday at age 76 after a long fight with cancer.
Schmidt headed Khodorkovsky's defense team since April 2004, and he continued working on the case even after he fell ill with cancer, Novaya Gazeta reported.
In comments from a 2011 interview posted on Khodorkovsky's website, Schmidt said: "I told Mikhail Borisovich [Khodorkovsky] that I'm not used to dying with an unfulfilled sense of duty, and I thanked him for supporting me. He really does support me. I want to be here to see his release."
Schmidt received numerous awards throughout his career, including an award for defending the rights of an individual from Human Rights Watch, and a Femida award, one of the most renowned legal prizes in Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.