Former German Justice Minister Sabina Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger sharply criticized former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for saying: “[In Germany] we nick tax evaders as well. However, we do not have Siberia at our disposal.”

Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s international defence lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, had already expressed his concern about the implications of Schroeder’s statement. Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger echoed Amsterdam’s concern by claiming: “I explicitly appreciate the strong criticism expressed by Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s attorney, Robert Amsterdam, concerning the behaviour of former Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. In the past, Mr. Schroeder had closed his eyes to the massive lack of rule of law and human rights in contemporary Russia. Now he damages the democratic development of Russia by mocking and twitting the victims of the insufficient rule of law, such as Mr. Khodorkovsky.”