On May 2, 2011, “Khodorkovsky,” a new documentary by German filmmaker Cyril Tuschi, was presented by the Institute of Modern Russia at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre in Washington.
The premiere took place during World Press Freedom Days—an international event that brings together journalists from all over the world to discuss the most acute problems and major challenges that members of the media face throughout their professional lives.
The screening attracted not only journalists but also officials from the U.S. Congress and Department of State, fellows and analysts from Washington-based think tanks and NGOs, and members of the Russian expatriate community. The film was introduced by Pavel Khodorkovsky, president of the Institute of Modern Russia, and by Cyril Tuschi, film director.
Special guests David Kramer, executive director of Freedom House and former Assistant U.S. Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; and Thomas Melia, current Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State, made remarks on the importance of the release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky for the future of U.S.-Russia relations.
After the almost two-hour run of the extended documentary about the fate of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former Russian oil tycoon turned number-one political prisoner in Russia, Ben Smith, political journalist and blogger for the American news outlet Politico, opened the floor for discussion. Both Pavel Khodorkovsky and Cyril Tuschi took questions, along with Bruce Misamore, former Yukos CFO, and Karinna Moskalenko, one of Russia's leading human rights lawyers.
