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Khodorkovsky to face new charges New fraud charges in Yukos case
(about 23 hours later)
Russian prosecutors are to file new money-laundering charges against jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, his lawyers say. Russian prosecutors have filed new charges of money-laundering and embezzlement against the jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
They say the prosecutors have told them to travel to the Siberian city of Chita to be present for the indictment. His lawyer said the same charges were filed against the ex-Yukos chairman's business partner Platon Lebedev.
Khodorkovsky, the ex-chairman of Yukos, is serving an eight-year term for fraud and tax evasion in the Chita region. The pair, jailed in 2005, are serving an eight-year term for fraud and tax evasion in the Chita region of Siberia, where the new charges were filed.
The new charges raise the prospect of more years in jail for Khodorkovsky - who was once Russia's richest man. Khodorkovsky was once one of Russia's most powerful men.
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 unlikelyParole 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 built up a multi-billion-dollar fortune before falling foul of the authorities. He was arrested in 2003 along with Platon Lebedev.
He had been serving his sentence in Kharp, in the far north of Russia, but last year was transferred to Chita. Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were facing the possibility of release in 2008 or 2009 - but that appears unlikely now.
Critics have accused Khodorkovsky of exploiting Russia's natural wealth for personal gain. Khodorkovsky's lawyer Yuri Shmidt described the latest charges as "absurd, even crazy".
Russian media say the charges allege that up to $25bn was embezzled.
"The sums mentioned are crazy - quite simply it would be impossible to steal, launder or in some other way conceal them," Mr Shmidt said, in a statement posted on Khodorkovsky's website.
Russian critics accused Khodorkovsky of exploiting the country'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.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.