MOSCOW, March 13 (RIA Novosti) - Mikhail Khodorkovsky has asked a court to impound the assets of the defunct oil company Yukos, the jailed tycoon's lawyer said on Friday.

"Khodorkovsky has filed a complaint alleging that the prosecution has failed to ensure the safety of the property they themselves believe to have been stolen," Vadim Klyuvgant said. "He has, therefore, asked the court to take measures to prevent the property from disappearing."

Klyuvgant said Russian law provides for an array of measures to preserve assets, including through a restraining order and seizure.

The lawyer said failure to take such action violates the interests of the parties to the trial, since in the event of an acquittal, these assets must be returned to Khodorkovsky.

Once Russia's largest oil producer, Yukos collapsed after charges of tax evasion led to the company being broken up and sold off to meet debts. The bulk of the company's assets were bought up by state-run oil company Rosneft.