Russia's former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov said in a Moscow court today that the Kremlin ordered the arrest of Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky because he had angered then-President Vladimir Putin by funding opposition parties.
Kasyanov told the court hearing that Putin told him the owners of the Yukos oil firm -- Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev -- had been arrested in 2003 because they had given funds to Russia's Communist Party.
Kasyanov, now a Russian opposition leader, spoke to RFE/RL's Russian Service by telephone today about his witness testimony in the Yukos case.
"I gave my reasons why I believe that this trial is politically motivated and that the charges brought against [the former Yukos owners] are groundless," he said.
Khordorkovsky's business empire was subsequently carved up and sold off -- mostly to Russian state-controlled firms.
Russian officials have always denied any political motivation for the arrests.
with agency reports
Kasyanov told the court hearing that Putin told him the owners of the Yukos oil firm -- Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev -- had been arrested in 2003 because they had given funds to Russia's Communist Party.
Kasyanov, now a Russian opposition leader, spoke to RFE/RL's Russian Service by telephone today about his witness testimony in the Yukos case.
"I gave my reasons why I believe that this trial is politically motivated and that the charges brought against [the former Yukos owners] are groundless," he said.
Khordorkovsky's business empire was subsequently carved up and sold off -- mostly to Russian state-controlled firms.
Russian officials have always denied any political motivation for the arrests.
with agency reports
