Russian Oil Tycoon Khordorkovsky Sentenced to 14 Years in Prison

Russian Oil Entrepeneur Mikhail Khordorkovsky was sentenced by Judge Viktor Danilkin to eight years in prison 7 years ago for fraud, but now the same judge said this expanded prison time of six years will be extended from his 2003 arrest and run concurrently with his first term of 8 years. He will serve a total of 14 years for his convictions upheld in the Russian courts for those crimes he and his business partner Platon Lebedev were charged with. They stole almost $30 billion dollars worth of oil through their Yukos company from 1998 to 2003 and laundering the proceeds. Lebedev also was sentenced to 14 years in a Moscow prison. This morning Khordorkovsky told the press, "You cannot count on the courts to protect you from government officials in Russia," in a statement read outside the courthouse by his lead attorney. Khordorkovsky has had a conflict with Vladimir Putin and considers he was framed by the current Prime Minister. The Russian government is rejecting US and European criticism over the embezzlement and money-laundering convictions of former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Critics say they are concerned by alleged violations of due process and abuses in the case. Russia's foreign ministry told reporters that Moscow expected "everyone to mind their own business." The trial and conviction are also drawing protests from within the Russian public.