Eurasia Press & News
Jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has had his appeal for parole turned down by a court in Siberia.Once Russia’s richest man, he was sentenced in 2005 to eight years in prison for tax evasion and fraud. He maintains his innocence.
Prosecutors criticised Khodorkovsky’s behaviour behind bars. The judge said he had failed to take part in a prison education programme and did not deserve conditional early release.
The ex-boss of oil giant Yukos says the charges were fabricated to punish him for challenging the Kremlin. Officials maintain he was a criminal who was given a fair trial.
Facing new allegations of embezzlement and money laundering, Khodorkovsky’s supporters fear the former tycoon could remain in jail for years to come.
