RUSSIA/FILE: Jailed former Yukos chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky applies for early release

Record ID: 723429

  • Title: RUSSIA/FILE: Jailed former Yukos chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky applies for early release
  • Date: 16th July 2008
  • Summary: (BN10) MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JULY 16, 2008) (REUTERS) WIDE VIEW PRESS CONFERENCE, JOURNALISTS SOUNDBITE (Russian) YURI SCHMIT, KHODORKOVSKY'S CHIEF DEFENCE LAWYER, SAYING: "We are glad to tell you that we have convinced him (Khodorkovsky) and today at 1420 Chita time (0520GMT), an appeal was sent to the Engadinsky court of Chita from the (Khodorkovsky) defence team, according to the law, for an early release from the sentence issued by the Mishensky Regional Court of Moscow. Each prisoner has the right to appeal for early release." CUTAWAY OF PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITE (Russian) YURI SCHMIT, KHODORKOVSKY'S CHIEF DEFENCE LAWYER, SAYING: "This is not a request for absolution or amnesty. It is something all prisoners who have served their sentences apply for and the majority, I don't have the exact figure, receive a conditional release. In order to consider the appeal, the court does not demand an admission or a confession of guilt, it depends on the person's record of good behaviour in prison, proving his rehabilitation." JOURNALISTS AT BRIEFING
  • Embargoed: 31st July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: People
  • Reuters ID: LVA8MGWPQQ0XW7M6YFN1EWOB7DD
  • Story Text: Lawyers for jailed former Yukos head Khodorkovsky say they have lodged appeal for his early release from jail.
    Lawyers for jailed Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said on Wednesday (July 16) they had made an official court application for his early release.
    Khodorkovsky, Russia's richest man when arrested in 2003, says he was jailed as part of a Kremlin plot aimed at carving up oil major Yukos and stopping him getting involved in politics.
    "This is not a request for absolution or amnesty. It is something all prisoners who have served their sentences apply for and the majority, I don't have the exact figure, receive a conditional release. In order to consider the appeal, the court does not demand an admission or a confession of guilt, it depends on the person's record of good behaviour in prison, proving his rehabilitation," Khodorkovsky's chief defence lawyer Yuri Schmidt told reporters.
    Khodorkovsky was found guilty of large-scale tax evasion and fraud in 2005. He has served just over half of an eight-year prison term. He has repeatedly said he is innocent.
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