Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Former Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said in a statement that the "degree of cruelty and legal absurdity" of a new trial of Mikhail Khodorkovsky would "no doubt exceed the first show trial" of 2004-2005.

"The beginning of the second trial in the Yukos affair is an answer to all those who had predicted an imminent thaw and called to support the new "liberal" president," the statement said.

Khodorkovsky's trial, due to begin on March 3, will be widely seen as a litmus test for new President Dmitry Medvedev.