Prosecutor filed new charges today against Mikhail Khodorkovsky, chief of Yukos oil company, one of the richest men in Russia, who has served almost 4 years of his 8-year sentence on fraud and tax evasion charges.

His advocate says, Khodorkovsky is accused of embezzling and laundering as much as $25 billion in illegal oil revenues. This figure can be compared to the supposed volume of foreign investments into Russian economics in 2008, or military orders of Russia in 2006.

Platon Lebedev, the head of Menatep and Khodorkovsky`s business partner is accused together with him. The two men are accused of defrauding Yukos through trading schemes that allowed its owners to skim off profits and subsequently launder the illegal funds through Khodorkovsky`s Open Russia foundation. If convicted on new charges, Khodorkovsky can get up to 15 more years in prison.
sections: Economics, Region News
areas: Central region