Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was found guilty recently. His business partner was also found guilty on charges of corruption. The news was broken by Khodorkovsky’s lawyer last Monday. Pavel, Khodorkovsky’s son on the other hand reported that his father already filed an appeal.
“Of course there will be an appeal. What I’m hoping for right now is the shortest sentence possible, because I’m really hoping to see my dad as soon as possible a free man.” Pavel Khodorkovsky
Specifically, Khodorkovsky was charged of money laundering and embezzlement and the second trial started in March 2009. If pushed through without any appeal, Khodorkovsky could be sentenced to 5 – 7 years in prison.
However lead defense lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant wrote that the trial was a charade of justice and that the charges were non-existent though the sentences will be real enough to land his client in jail.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky is the former head of Yukos oil. His business partner, Platon Lebedev was also implicated and charged with embezzlement and laundering of stolen property.
According to papers, both are accused of stealing nearly billions of dollars’ worth of oil from Yukos from the years 1998 to 2003. Khodorkovsky was already convicted in a separate trial for evading taxes and underpaying taxes on oil.
Khodorkovsky claims that his intent to run for a political position as well as funding opposition parties has resulted to fake charges. The charges were part of the Kremlin campaign designed to pull him down and his company built through privatization deals back in the 1990s.The Kremlins so far denied the allegations.
Andriel, Netherlands