Medical Examiner: Terminally Ill Aleksanyan Can't Stand Trial
A forensic medical study confirmed that former YUKOS executive Vasily Aleksanyan cannot participate in further court hearings due to his deteriorating health condition, however the Simonovsky District Court of Moscow is refusing to drop the case against him.
Aleksanyan is accused of embezzlement and money laundering and was diagnosed with AIDS a few months after his detention in April 2006, was released from detention last December on a 50 million-ruble ($1.8 million) bail. He is almost blind, has developed liver cancer, and has also contracted tuberculosis. Meanwhile, the Simonovsky District Court turned down the petition filed by Aleksanyan's defense lawyers seeking to drop the case against him - saying that they are still waiting to receive written consent from their client that confirms the results on the medical study. The court has postponed further hearings until October 5.