Hopes for Court Reform Stir in Russia

But legal reform is one of Russia's oldest empty promises. Putin, too, spoke about the rule of law, but in practice it meant the supremacy of the Kremlin in all matters.

"I pray for Medvedev, but I'm reserved," said Sergei Pashin, a former judge and a professor at the Moscow Institute of Economics, Politics and Law. "We have often heard the correct words and seen no action. There is great resistance."

So far, there are plenty of examples of the old style of law enduring.

In a speech in Moscow this week, Tony Hayward, chief executive of the British-based oil giant BP, called for the "consistent application of the rule of law" after the head of BP's joint venture in Russia, TNK-BP, was called before the tax authorities. That followed a raid on the company's offices by the security services and the withdrawal of visas from some of its foreign employees.

The various investigations appear to be linked to a struggle between BP and its Russian partners for control of the venture. The probes illustrated the continuing ability of connected insiders to mobilize the police and other legal structures to press private disputes.

The legal system under Putin was often a weapon to neutralize business or political enemies, most famously the tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is serving eight years for tax evasion and fraud. His oil company, Yukos, was broken up. Courts in Britain, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Liechtenstein and Lithuania described the Yukos proceedings as politically tainted when they rejected motions from Russian prosecutors seeking the extradition of Yukos officials or material for trials in Russia.

Khodorkovsky's lawyers say their client's fate could become the measure of Medvedev's reform agenda. During a visit to Berlin on Thursday, Medvedev was pressed on the issue by German leaders and appeared to tamp down speculation that he might pardon Khodorkovsky.

"The issue of a pardon shouldn't be discussed at an international level, or by politicians," Medvedev said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "The procedure of a pardon, for which any convict can appeal, including Khodorkovsky, should rely on Russian law."

Yuri Schmidt, one of Khodorkovsky's lawyers, said the issue of a pardon is a red herring because Khodorkovsky will never apply for one. Such an application, he said, requires an admission of guilt on the part of the petitioner, which is anathema to the jailed businessman.

"We've been watching Medvedev's statements attentively, not about the pardon, but that court procedures should be used to resolve the Khodorkovsky case," Schmidt said. He said Khodorkovsky's attorneys were working on an application for early release, which Khodorkovsky now qualifies for after serving nearly five years in prison, including his pretrial detention.

"The application to the courts will be sort of a test, and I'm cautiously optimistic," he said. "For the legal community, Valyavina's statement, in particular, was a hopeful sign that change is possible."

Valyavina made her statement as a defense witness in a libel case. Valery Boyev, a Kremlin official, had sued Vladimir Solovyov after the broadcast journalist said that "there are no independent judges in Russia. There are judges who depend on Boyev."

Valyavina told a Moscow court that Boyev came to see her in 2005 after she handed down a ruling against the Federal Property Fund.

"He spoke about state interests, saying that apparently I did not understand clearly what those interests were," said Valyavina, who was in her first six-year term. "I was told directly that if I was going to request reappointment for the second term, I would have problems."

After Valyavina's testimony, Boyev withdrew his suit before three other judges could testify.

"This case is a vivid example for the community of judges and society that you should and you can tell the truth," said Shota Gorgadze, Solovyov's attorney. "And the fact that it coincided with statements by Dmitry Medvedev confirms, in my view, that the time has come when words and the deeds coincide."