At Khodorkovsky’s request

“Mikhail Khodorkovsky has asked us to end our hunger strike,” says Marina Savvateyeva. “He called it the most extreme form of protest and does not think his transfer to the punishment cell is worth it. He says that the punishment cell has become quite an ordinary occurrence for him.”

On Wednesday the three hunger strikers attended the hearing at the Chita Region Court where the defence appeal against the refusal to grant Khodorkovsky is being heard.

He spoke about very personal matters, recalls Savvateyeva. Khodorkovsky told how he had been put under pressure in the penal colony and the staff had turned all the inmates against him. Another prisoner even asked Mikhail Khodorkovsky to explain what it “to compromise” meant since he had been instructed to “compromise” Khodorkovsky but did not know the meaning of the word.

Four members of the Chita support committee have been on hunger strike in protest against Khodorkovsky’s transfer to the punishment cell for 12 days. Three began on 10 October; a fourth joined them on 13 October. Today they drank juice and will only begin to eat solids tomorrow.

“When you walk it’s easy to move,” said Marina Savvateyeva of her condition on the sixth day of the hunger strike, “but when you sit down your head spins and you immediately want to sleep.”