June 8, 2004

Khodorkovsky to be Tried Together With Second Defendant

The Meshchansky Court will combine the cases of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. Trial proceedings will begin June 16. Defence lawyer Yuri Schmidt agreed with the decision. "The accusations against them are practically one and the same, therefore it is logical that they be examined jointly. I think the court made a fair and reasonable decision," he explained.

(Source: Associated Press.)