Publications / Justice Under Pressure: The Appeal
Lebedev, on December 27, 2010 the two men were declared guilty of embezzling and laundering the proceeds of all oil produced by Yukos subsidiaries over a six-year period. The Khamovnichesky Court found the defendants guilty of having embezzled significantly more oil than prosecutors had alleged or even attempted to prove. Lead defense lawyer Vadim V. Klyuvgant called the trial “a charade of justice”. On December 30, 2010, with less than a year remaining before completion of their existing 8-year prison terms, Khodorkovsky and Lebedev were sentenced to an overall total of 14 years in captivity, meaning that counting time already served they are now expected to remain in jail at least until 2017. The defense initiated appeal procedures on December 31, 2010.2 The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the Moscow City Court on May 17, 2011.