This article is 20 years old. Images might not display.
Khodorkovsky has been charged with forgery, tax evasion and fraud associated with dealings through his former company Yukos, and faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.
The case has been seen as a test of Russia new democratic structure with many of the billionaire business mogul’s supporters claiming he is a victim of political persecution, targeted because he funded political parties and organisations opposed to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Khodorkovsky has little support from the man on the street with many Russians still angered by the way he made his money by picking up state assets in the mid-1990s at bargain prices following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Since his arrest Yukos has been forced to cancel a planned merger with fellow Russian oil major Sibneft and has seen periodic freezes on dealings in its stock imposed by the government.