Former Russian Oil Tycoon Khodorkovsky Marks 10 Years In Prison
Former Russian Oil Tycoon Khodorkovsky Marks 10 Years In Prison
Former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky (center) is escorted into a court in Moscow in December 2003, less than two months after his arrest, for a hearing on prolonging his pretrial custody.
October 25 marks 10 years since jailed former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested by Russian authorities.
Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, was eventually convicted of tax evasion and sentenced to eight years in prison.
In 2010, he was given a second prison term for money laundering and embezzlement from Yukos oil company, which he headed.
Khodorkovsky is set to be released in August, and his former business partner Platon Lebedev, who was arrested a few months earlier, is expected to be freed in May.
However, Khodorkovsky's supporters fear that new charges could be prepared to keep him behind the bars.
Critics call charges against Khodorkovsky punishment for having challenged President Vladimir Putin's dominance on Russia's political scene.
In a statement on October 25, the U.S. State Department reiterated its concerns about selective prosecution, a politically motivated investigation, and lack of respect for due process rights in Khodorkovsky's and Lebedev's cases.
PHOTOGALLERY: From Young Tycoon To Graying Inmate
Khodorkovsky: From Young Tycoon To Graying Inmate
1/12Khodorkovsky speaks at the Yukos headquarters in Moscow in June 2003, months before his arrest on fraud and tax evasion charges.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
2/12Russian police escort the former Yukos oil chief to a courthouse in Moscow on December 23, 2003.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
3/12Khodorkovsky supporters protest outside a Moscow court on January 15, 2004. Many Russians see him as a political prisoner jailed for political ambition and his criticism of President Putin. Amnesty International considers him a prisoner of conscience.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
4/12Khodorkovsky at a hearing at the Chita Regional Court in October 2008. During his imprisonment, Yukos was broken up and sold off, mostly into state hands.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
5/12Supporters rally on August 27, 2009, as prosecutors presented new charges against Khodorkovsky.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
6/12Khodorkovsky and Lebedev are escorted to a hearing in Moscow on January 11, 2010.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
7/12Elena Lukyanova (left), a lawyer for Khodorkovsky, and his daughter Anastasia Khodorkovskaya attend "Znamya" magazine's literary award ceremony in January 2010, where Khodorkovskaya received an award on her father's behalf for his "Dialogues With Lyudmila Ulitskaya."
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
8/12The former CEO's mother, Marina Khodorkovskaya (right), his wife Inna (left), and his daughter Anastasia walk out after a court hearing in Moscow on December 30, 2010. A judge sentenced Khodorkovsky to additional prison time on new charges of financial crimes.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
9/12Khodorkovsky's book "Articles. Dialogues. Interviews." is presented in Moscow in January 2011.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
10/12Police detain a Khodorkovsky supporter during a gathering in central Moscow in June 2011.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
11/12Activists in London send a birthday message to Khodorkovsky in 2012. On June 26, 2013, he celebrated his 50th birthday in a remote prison colony near the Arctic Circle.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
12/12Members of a pro-Kremlin youth group wear masks representing anti-Putin opposition leaders during a demonstration called "Send them to join Khodorkovsky as guests!" on the occasion of the jailed businessman's 50th birthday.
October 25 marks the tenth anniversary of the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man. The former CEO of oil giant Yukos was arrested in 2003 on tax evasion and fraud charges along with his business partner Platon Lebedev; in 2010, the two were sentenced to additional jail time on charges of embezzlement and money laundering. Khodorkovsky is now due to be released in August 2014. The case against him is seen by many in Russia as retribution for Khodorkovsky's political challenges to the Kremlin.
