Lost a defender

Lawyer and human rights activist Yuri Shmidt died in St. Petersburg. He was 75 years old, he was seriously and terminally ill.

Schmidt was best known as the lawyer for former businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky at the first Yukos trial. He led the defense team. In the second trial, due to health reasons, he could no longer participate as actively, but he willingly gave comments and continued to prove that there was a political motive in the case.

In addition, Schmidt acted as a defense attorney in the case of the murder of Galina Starovoitova and in the case of the murder of Sergei Yushenkov. He led the case of captain Alexander Nikitin, accused of treason (his client was acquitted).

For his work as a lawyer and human rights activist, Yuri Shmidt was awarded many awards.