Khodorkovsky to Stay in Custody Till Mid-February

The Meshchansky Court of Moscow prolonged the custody term for former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky until Feb. 14.

The court granted a request by the state prosecutor, Dmitry Shokhin, Interfax news agency reported. The prosecutor asked the court to prolong Khodokrovky’s term for three months.

Khodorkovsky was arrested on Oct. 25, 2003. He was charged with tax fraud and evasion. Several bail requests were denied. His arrest has attracted attention from various public figures and human right groups, both in Russia and the West, who criticized the case against him as being politically motivated.

(From Moscow News, 1.11.2004)