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Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has urged Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates to intercede in a computer piracy case against a Russian headteacher.
The plea came in an open letter published on Mr Gorbachev's website.
Prosecutors in Russia accuse Alexander Ponosov of running pirated software on school computers, violating intellectual property rights.
Quote:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has also criticised the prosecution of Mr Ponosov, in Perm, east of Moscow.
Mr Gorbachev's letter, on the website run by his charitable foundation, said "many people in Russia regard this scandalous case as trumped-up, launched on the initiative of Microsoft corporation to set a precedent".
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We have great respect for the work of Microsoft's programmers... and are in no way casting doubt on the principle of punishment for intellectual property violations.
"However, in this case we ask you to show mercy and withdraw your complaint against Alexander Ponosov," the letter read. It was also signed by Russian parliament deputy and banker Alexander Lebedev.
Mr Gorbachev said that under Russian criminal law the teacher could face "imprisonment in Siberian camps".
The teacher is accused of knowingly using pirated Windows software in the school and causing the company losses put at 266,000 roubles ($10,000; £5,000).
"It's ridiculous to just arrest a chap for using computers," he said.