Media Advisory - Robert Amsterdam to speak on "The Global Effects of Russian Authoritarianism: The Case of Yukos Oil"

6 October 2005

Robert Amsterdam, Canadian lawyer for jailed
Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, will speak on Friday, October 7, at a
Fraser Institute policy briefing in Toronto, on "The Global Effects of Russian
Authoritarianism: The Case of Yukos Oil".
Khodorkovsky, former CEO of energy giant Yukos, Russia's second largest
oil company, was jailed by Russian authorities on Oct. 25, 2003 for alleged
fraud and tax evasion. The controversial case has raised questions about the
credibility of Russian democracy and the increasingly authoritarian rule of
Russian President Vladimir Putin. On September 23, with the case under appeal,
Amsterdam was ordered to leave Russia or face arrest.
Amsterdam will provide an "insider's look" at this high profile case. He
will also discuss the impact of Russia's investment climate on private sector
investment and how safe Canadian investments are in Putin's Russia.
Amsterdam is a partner in the Toronto law firm Amsterdam & Peroff and has
extensive experience litigating and arbitrating corporate disputes in emerging
markets, focusing on the areas of individual and corporate human rights. He is
front-and-centre among an international team of lawyers representing
Mr. Khodorkovsky.

Date: Friday, October 7, 2005

Time: 12:00 pm - Registration & Casual lunch
12:15 pm - Presentation
12:45 pm - Q & A

Location: Weston Conference Centre -- Fraser Institute Ontario Office
3rd Floor, 1491 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario

Interested media are invited to attend.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Established in 1974, The Fraser Institute is an independent public policy
organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto. For further
information, visit www.fraserinstitute.ca.

For further information: Suzanne Walters, Director of Communications,
The Fraser Institute, Tel. (604) 714-4582, Email:
suzannew@fraserinstitute.ca