Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he was unaware of new charges brought against former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky and did not back the businessman into a corner, Russian daily Kommersant said on Monday.
"He [Khodorkovsky] is serving a well-deserved punishment," Putin told Kommersant. "When he is released he will be a free man," he added. "I certainly did not back him into a corner."
Earlier this month a Moscow court extended custody for Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev for another three months.
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev are serving eight-year sentences for fraud and tax evasion. In May they were accused of stealing $9.6 billion from the $15.8 billion profit generated by Yukos between 1999 and 2003, as well as 350 million tons of oil.
Putin said he was surprised when he found out about new charges against Khodorkovsky.
"When I found out about the second case, [I] was very surprised and asked what the case was as he is already serving his term," Putin said. "However as new charges were brought then there is a need for them from a legal point of view," the premier said. "I am not conducting this case," he added.
Former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said in May that the new charges against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were ludicrous and politically motivated.
Russian officials have consistently denied any political motivation behind their prosecution.
The trial in the new case against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev will continue at the Khamovniki district court in Moscow.
MOSCOW, August 30 (RIA Novosti)
