Khodorkovsky appeal rejected

By Arkady Ostrovsky in Moscow
Published: September 22 2005 20:59 | Last updated: September 22 2005 20:59

A Moscow court on Thursday rejected an appeal by Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the jailed Russian tycoon, against his conviction for fraud and tax evasion but cut his nine-year sentence to eight years.

The ruling, which came at the end of one-day hearing, ends another chapter in the legal battle between the state and the former owner of the Yukos oil company, who was arrested two years ago.

The attack on Mr Khodorkovsky, widely believed to be masterminded by the Kremlin, has dominated Russian politics over the past two years. Economists believe it has damaged the investment climate in the country and empowered hardliners close to Vladimir Putin, Russia's president.

Mr Khodorkovsky's jail sentence comes into force automatically on the rejection of the appeal and disqualifies him from running for parliament.

Mr Khodorkovsky had earlier announced he would stand in a Moscow by-election on December 4, but his registration documents sent by post last week never reached the electoral commission. Yuri Shmidt, one of Mr Khodorkovsky's defence lawyers said: “What we are dealing with here is not the prosecutors or the judges, it is the full weight of the state machine.” “I did not think the authorities would be so cynical in the way they did it - they have abandoned any appearance of legality,” Mr Shmidt said.

The 42 year old Mr Khodorkovsky smiled before being led out of the glass-fronted cage in the court-room, and waved to relatives and supporters. His lawyers said they would continue to fight for reversal of his conviction in other courts, including the international court of human rights in Strasbourg.

During the hearing Mr Khodorkovsky accused Kremlin bureaucrats of prosecuting him out of greed and fear in order to steal his oil company and neuteralise him as a political opponent.

“Kremlin bureaucrats come and go. Those who are currently breaking up Yukos will also not be here for ever. In a few years, they will move to the West,” he said from within the glass-fronted metal cage in which he followed proceedings.

“I understand the task given to the court.”

(The Financial Times, 9.23.2005)