Russian court upholds sentence against tycoon Khodorkovsky

[News_Editor]

Russian court upholds sentence against tycoon Khodorkovsky

2011-05-25 05:35:20 GMT+7 (ICT)

MOSCOW (BNO NEWS) -- The Moscow City Court on Tuesday upheld the sentence against Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his partner over embezzlement and money laundering charges, RIA Novosti reported.

In addition, the court reduced the 14-year prison terms of Khodorkovsky and his partner Platon Lebedev by one year. The ruling came during an appeal hearing against the December 2010 verdict that ordered them to six years in prison each.

The two former executives of the Yukos oil company were already serving an eight-year-sentence each on fraud charges. The case has been condemned worldwide and is seen as a political vendetta by powerful Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

"I am deeply disappointed by the decision of the Moscow City Court to uphold the verdict in the Khodorkovsky and Lebedev case," said EU High Representative Catherine Ashton. "I remain troubled by allegations of numerous violations in due process which reflect systemic problems within the Russian judiciary."

Khodorkovsky challenged by Putin by funding liberal opposition parties in the early 2000s. The ruling also means that the Russian tycoon will remain behind bars way past the March 2012 presidential elections.

"The failure of Khodorkovsky's appeal has again highlighted concerns about the application of the rule of law in Russia," said Foreign Minister David Lidington. "The UK believes that Russia's people are best served by a fair and impartial judicial system which protects the legal rights of all individuals."

Furthermore, Amnesty International declared Khodorkovsky and Lebedev prisoners of conscience after their convictions were upheld. The defendant's attorneys called the ruling a "symbolic action" intended to give a sense of fairness to the proceedings.

"Today's verdict makes it clear that Russia's lower courts are unable, or unwilling, to deliver justice in their cases," said Nicola Duckworth, Amnesty International's Director for Europe and Central Asia. "The Supreme Court offers the last possible hope for justice. Their convictions must be overturned and the two men released on the expiry of their current sentences."

Since the two businessmen were convicted last year, Amnesty International expressed concern over the timing of charges, the harassment of lawyers and witnesses and procedural violations including the exclusion of evidence that might have exonerated the defendants, and the denial of the right to examine and cross examine witnesses.

Also on Tuesday, the Moscow court upheld a decision to close a criminal case against the two defendants involving allegations of stealing shares in VNK (Eastern Oil Company). Khodorkovsky and Lebedev wanted it to be reopened.

VNK was privatized by Yukos in 1997 in a controversial auction. The court decided to keep the criminal case closed as its term was expired. Under Russian law, it means the suspect is neither found guilty nor cleared of the charges.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-05-25

[FOODLOVER]

Would like to hear what the Russians think of this. Is this a Putin thing or what?