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91Èȱ¬ World Service
Last updated: 30 september, 2009 - 16:27 GMT

Caricature Witness

For many people in Russia the trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky on charges of embezzlement and money laundering is a symbol of the state of the country.

To some he represented the arrival of freedom and capitalism. To others he is someone who undermine the state through criminal activity.

As head of the oil company Yukos he was once Russia's richest man, with assets valued at over 15 billion dollars.

In 2003 he was convicted of fraud and tax evasion and sentenced to eight years in a Siberian prison.

Two years ago the Kremlin claimed to have found evidence of new financial crimes abd a second triail was set in motion.

Now, in a twist to the normal media practice of employing courtroom artists where cameras are not allowed, a new media company in Moscow has launched a competition for artists to draw the proceedings.

So far, 35 artists have produced over 400 pictures which are now part of an exhibition in Moscow.

Organiser Sergei Kuznetsov explained.

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