Khodorkovsky’s ex-cellmate to appeal second refusal to launch inquiry

Lawyers of Alexander Kuchma, a former cellmate of jailed Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, will send a complaint on Wednesday to the district court of Chita on a lower court’s refusal to launch an inquiry over a broken wrist which he suffered at a correctional facility after he allegedly failed to kill Khodorkovsky.

Kuchma slashed Khodorkovsky’s face when they were cellmates at a correctional facility in the remote region of Chita in April 2006. Kuchma later claimed he had attacked the tycoon on orders from prison authorities.

Kuchma said prison authorities had broken his wrist because he failed to stab Khodorkovsky to death. Prison officials have denied the charges, saying Kuchma broke his wrist when he slipped and fell in the shower.

Kuchma has already been released from prison and now lives with his mother in Chita.

In 2006, Khodorkovsky was serving an eight-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion. He had his term extended by six years in a widely criticized trial in December last year. He is now expected to be released in 2016.

 

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