Trial of former Yukos CEO could end in April News
Trial of former Yukos CEO could end in April

[JURIST] A lawyer for Mikhail Khodorkovsky [JURIST Hot Topic archive; BBC profile], former CEO of Russian oil giant Yukos [corporate website], has said that his client's trial on tax fraud and other charges could end in April. Yuri Shmidt said that while he doubts the judge's ruling will exonerate his client, he is confident that Khodorkovsky will prevail in the end. Khodorkovsky was arrested at gunpoint in 2003, and his trial [defense website] has been at the heart of the government's attack on Yukos and dismantling of the former oil empire. He testified for three hours [JURIST report] on Friday, denying guilt of the charges against him; he now faces a week of questioning from the judge in the case. The Russian Journal has extensive local coverage of the Yukos saga. AP has more.