Russia sentencing will complicate WTO bid - U.S. official

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The sentencing handed down to former Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky will complicate Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization, a senior Obama administration official said on Thursday.
"It is not going to help their cause, it is only going to complicate their cause," the official said
"The WTO is a rules based, rule of law organization. Most countries around the world do not look at this verdict as a demonstration of the deepening of the rule of law in Russia. It will definitely have an effect on Russia's reputation," the official added.