Russia's Khodorkovskii Wins More Access To Lawyers

Mikhail Khodorkovskii (file photo) (AFP)

March 2, 2006 -- Jailed former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovskii won a small legal victory today when a Moscow court ruled he could see his lawyers during working hours at his Siberian prison.

Until now Khodorkovskii, who is serving an eight-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion, could only see his lawyers outside of his prison-mandated work hours. His lawyers argued this was a violation of his rights to proper access to legal advice.

Khodorkovskii, once Russia's richest man, says the charges against him were part of a Kremlin plot to seize control his Yukos oil company.

The Kremlin says it played no role in his conviction.

(Reuters)