Russia's Khodorkovsky Says No Proof He Stole Oil

Former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky in a Moscow courtroom

Testifying at his trial, jailed former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said that none of the companies he is accused of stealing oil from ever reported the alleged theft.

Khodorkovsky faces charges of embezzling more than $25 billion worth of oil from three subsidiaries of his former company, Yukos, and laundering most of the proceeds. His lawyers have called these claims ridiculous.

Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, is currently serving eight years in prison for tax evasion -- charges widely seen as punishment for challenging then-President Vladimir Putin.

Khodorkovsky testified for a second day today against fresh embezzlement charges, which could keep him in prison for another 22 years.

compiled from agency reports