UPDATE 1-New charges brought against Russia’s Khodorkovsky
June 30th, 2008 | by admin |(Adds details, quotes)
MOSCOW, June 30 (Reuters) - Russian prosecutors have broughtnew charges against jailed former oil tycoon MikhailKhodorkovsky, his legal team said on Monday.
The lawyers said they had yet to establish what the newcharges were. Khodorkovsky, who controlled the now-dismantledRussian oil giant Yukos, has already served just over half of aneight-year prison term on fraud and tax evasion charges.
“The new charges were presented on 30th of June,” hisdefence team said in a statement posted on its websitewww.khodorkovsky.ru.
Prosecutors gave no immediate comment.
Khodorkovsky has always maintained his innocence and saidthe charges against him were fabricated as punishment forchallenging the Kremlin. Russian officials say he is a criminalwho received a fair trial.
Prosecutors have for over a year been preparing to try himon a fresh set of charges, for money laundering.
Khodorkovsky’s legal team said they believed the new chargespresented on Monday were a recycled version of those existingmoney laundering charges. They said they believed announcing newcharges was a ruse by prosecutors to play for time.
“The defence can find no explanation other than the lack ofcertainty among the prosecutors and — taking into accountchanges that have happened at the top of the government — itsdesire to play for time, in the hope of receiving newinstructions and confirmation of support from the top,” thelawyers’ statement said.
