The defense of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former head of the Yukos oil giant, confirmed Tuesday that he is on a hunger strike.
The Russkaya Sluzhba Novostei radio station reported on Monday that Khodorkovsky officially informed Russia's Supreme Court Chairman Vyacheslav Lebedev of his decision to go on a hunger strike as the former tycoon was ruled to stay in pre-detention on new charges until August 17.
Once Russia's richest man, Khodorkovsky is already serving an eight-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion. He is now accused of stealing $9.6 billion from the $15.8 billion profit generated by Yukos between 1999 and 2003 and 350 million tons of oil.
Lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant said Khodorkovsky believed "the presidential will was ignored" when judge Viktor Danilkin in May extended his and his business companion Platon Lebedev's custody until August 17.
Klyuvgant said his client believes the court failed to take into account amendments to the Criminal-Procedural Code, in line with which, the defense said, those accused on articles that Khodorkovsky and Lebedev are charged with should not be detained.
"The hunger strike will continue until Khodorkovsky receives confirmation that the president has been informed of the sabotage that took place," the lawyer said, adding that this does not just "concern Khodorkovsky himself."
Moscow's Khamovniki court extended Khodorkovsky's custody on May 14. Khodorkovsky has already appealed the ruling to the Moscow City Court.
Khodorkovsky told the Khamovniki court earlier that he could not understand what he was accused of because his specific actions were not described in the criminal case.
MOSCOW, May 18 (RIA Novosti)
