Russian Commies under the guise of Democracy
Khodorkovsky to face new charges
Khodorkovsky says his case is politically-motivatedRussian prosecutors are to file new money-laundering charges against jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, his lawyers say.
They say the prosecutors have told them to travel to the Siberian city of Chita to be present for the indictment.
Khodorkovsky, the ex-chairman of Yukos, is serving an eight-year term for fraud and tax evasion in the Chita region.
The new charges raise the prospect of more years in jail for Khodorkovsky - who was once Russia's richest man.
On Sunday, four of Khodorkovsky lawyers said they had been briefly held by the authorities at a Moscow airport as they prepared to fly to Chita.
Yuri Schmidt, one of those detained, said no explanation was given for the detention and they were released an hour later.
Parole unlikely
Khodorkovsky built up a multi-billion-dollar fortune before falling foul of the authorities. He was arrested in 2003 along with his business associate Platon Lebedev.
He had been serving his sentence in Kharp, in the far north of Russia, but last year was transferred to Chita.
Critics have accused Khodorkovsky of exploiting Russia's natural wealth for personal gain.
His supporters say the case against him was politically motivated and he is paying the price for his political ambitions.
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were facing the possibility of release in 2008-2009 - but that appears unlikely now that new charges are being laid against them.
Khodorkovsky says his case is politically-motivatedRussian prosecutors are to file new money-laundering charges against jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, his lawyers say.
They say the prosecutors have told them to travel to the Siberian city of Chita to be present for the indictment.
Khodorkovsky, the ex-chairman of Yukos, is serving an eight-year term for fraud and tax evasion in the Chita region.
The new charges raise the prospect of more years in jail for Khodorkovsky - who was once Russia's richest man.
On Sunday, four of Khodorkovsky lawyers said they had been briefly held by the authorities at a Moscow airport as they prepared to fly to Chita.
Yuri Schmidt, one of those detained, said no explanation was given for the detention and they were released an hour later.
Parole unlikely
Khodorkovsky built up a multi-billion-dollar fortune before falling foul of the authorities. He was arrested in 2003 along with his business associate Platon Lebedev.
He had been serving his sentence in Kharp, in the far north of Russia, but last year was transferred to Chita.
Critics have accused Khodorkovsky of exploiting Russia's natural wealth for personal gain.
His supporters say the case against him was politically motivated and he is paying the price for his political ambitions.
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were facing the possibility of release in 2008-2009 - but that appears unlikely now that new charges are being laid against them.
posted by Foch at 9:54 PM
