Current Trials & Legal Status
In late December 2006 Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev were transferred from prison to a pre-trial detention center, located in the Siberian city of Chita and known for its much harsher conditions, for questioning in a new criminal probe. New charges were brought against the two men in February 2007. On June 30, 2008, investigators again brought charges, which with some amendments repeated the charges of February 2007. This new trial began on March 3, 2009.
Questions & Answers About the Second Trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev >>
Read an executive summary of the first month of the trial prepared by the defense >>
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were held in Chita in direct violation of Russian law that requires an investigation to be conducted in the region where the alleged crimes were committed, which in this case is Moscow. An appeal to Moscow's Basmanny Court on the location of the investigation and pre-trial detention was heard on March 26, 2007, and summarily rejected.
Current Trial Background
On February 5, 2007, Russian prosecutors brought new allegations against Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev in the Siberian city of Chita. On 30 June 2008, investigators again brought charges, which with some amendments repeated the charges of February 2007. The investigators are officially accusing the two men with embezzlement of oil and laundering of the stolen property.
From the Courtroom
On March 3, 2009, a second trial began with a hearing in Moscow for Khodorkovsky and Lebedev. The information in this section outlines documents, updates and summaries from the courtroom of this most recent trial.
The Prisons
From mid-October 2005 to December 2006 Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev served their prison sentences in the remote labor penal colonies of Krasnokamensk in Eastern Siberia and Kharp in the Arctic Circle, respectively.
The Legal Team
Assembled at Khodorkovsky and Lebedev's defense are a respected lineup of Russian and international lawyers. Read their statements, interviews, and biographies.