MOSCOW, October 4 (RIA Novosti) - Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of beleaguered oil giant Yukos, has decided to file an appeal with the presidium of the Moscow City Court, one of his defense lawyers said Tuesday.

Anton Drel said, "Today Khodorkovsky received a copy of the full cassational ruling from the Moscow City Court, and having read it, firmly decided to file an appeal."

On September 22, the Moscow City Court reduced the sentences of Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev (for crimes including fraud and tax evasion) from 9 to 8 years in a low-security prison.