Russian Supreme Court To Hear Khodorkovsky Appeal

May 19, 2013

Russia's Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal against the second conviction of jailed former oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

The court posted its decision to review the conviction of Khodorkovsky and his former business partner Platon Lebedev on its website on May 19.

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It did not say when the hearing would take place.

"This means that the appeal will be reviewed at a special session of the judicial board," Khodorkovsky's lawyer, Vadim Klyuvgant, said.

Khodorkovksy, the former head of the now dismantled Yukos oil company, and Lebedev were imprisoned in 2004 on fraud and tax-evasion charges.

Shortly before their scheduled release, their stay in jail was extended during a second and controversial trial in 2010.

Lebedev is now due to be released in August 2014 and Khodorkovsky in October 2014.

Based on reporting by AFP and ITAR-TASS