Khodorkovsky calls case against him 'pure rubbish'

[October 27, 2010]  MOSCOW (AP) -- Jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky urged a Russian judge to recognize the "pure rubbish" of the prosecution's case against him Wednesday as he delivered his final arguments in his second trial.

Khodorkovsky, 47, was Russia's richest man when he was arrested in 2003 on charges of tax evasion by his now-defunct oil company, Yukos. The charges were considered punishment for challenging then-President Vladimir Putin, including by funding opposition parties.

Khodorkovsky's eight-year sentence from that trial is a year from completion, but a second raft of fraud and embezzlement charges filed against him could keep him behind bars until 2017. Prosecutors last week requested a 14-year sentence, which according to lawyers would include time already served.

Critics charge the second case is designed to keep Khodorkovsky incarcerated until after Russia's 2012 presidential election, in which Putin could take part. The case is being closely watched to gauge whether Russia has strengthened its commitment to the rule of law as President Dmitry Medvedev has promised.

Khodorkovsky told Judge Viktor Danilkin on Wednesday that the arguments used by the prosecution actually proved his innocence.

"I am sure that you are competent enough to understand that the allegations made by the prosecution are utter rubbish and you are not going to include utter rubbish in your ruling," Khodorkovsky said.

He and his business partner Platon Lebedev are accused of stealing more than 218 million tons of oil produced by Yukos from 1998 to 2003.

Lebedev, who is on trial with Khodorkovsky, and their defense attorneys were still scheduled to speak.

[Associated Press; By NATALIYA VASILYEVA]

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