Khodorkovsky to take the stand for first time in yearlong politically driven trial
By APTuesday, April 6, 2010
Khodorkovsky to speak in own defense
MOSCOW — Imprisoned former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky is in court and expected to testify for the first time since his second trial began more than a year ago.
He is charged with embezzling more than $25 billion worth of oil and laundering most of the proceeds, charges his lawyers say are ridiculous.
They say the case is punishment for challenging Vladimir Putin, the former president who remains powerful as prime minister.
Khodorkovsky’s business partner Platon Lebedev, who is on trial with him in Moscow, spoke first Tuesday and said the trial was “rotten.”
Lebedev demanded the recusal of the judge, who angrily called a short recess.
The trial is considered a test of whether President Dmitry Medvedev is serious about reforming Russia’s judicial system.
