Jailed ex-CEO says Yukos "destroyed" by Russian aunction sale News
Jailed ex-CEO says Yukos "destroyed" by Russian aunction sale

[JURIST] In a statement circulated Monday, jailed former Yukos Oil CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky said that the auction sale of Yukos' main Yuganskneftegaz production arm to little-known Baikal Finance Group Sunday had "destroyed" the company and had given the Russian authorities a "wonderful Christmas present." Khordorkovsky is currently on trial in Moscow for tax fraud (official trial website in English here). Meanwhile, controversy still surrounds the putative buyer of the Yukos asset, now alleged by various stories in the Russian press to be a front for Gazprom, the Russian state energy company, or at the very least a company that Gazprom might buy out. From Russia, MosNews.com has local coverage in English.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.