New trial for jailed Khodorkovsky

Mar 3 - Jailed Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has gone on trial in Moscow where he facing new charges of embezzlement and money laundering.

His lawyers say the trial is a test case of who really rules Russia, where Prime Minister Putin still wields enormous power.

Once Russia's richest man, Khodorkovsky was stripped of his wealth and jailed in 2005 for 8 years after being convicted of tax evasion and fraud. The former head of Russia's disbanded oil firm, Yukos, has always protested his innocence.

He says he's the victim of corrupt officials who feared his political ambitions and wanted to carve up his business empire.

His lawyers say the new charges are absurd. Khodorkovsky faces 22-years in prison if convicted.

Helen Long reports.

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