A court in Russia's Arkhangelsk region has reduced the prison term for Platon Lebedev, the former associate of jailed former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
The court on August 8 reduced Lebedev's prison term from 13 years to 9 years and 8 months.
Lebedev and his business partner Khodorkovsky, the former head of Yukos oil company and once one of the richest people in Russia, were arrested in 2003 on charges of fraud and sentenced to nine years in jail.
New charges of embezzlement and money laundering were brought against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev and they were sentenced to additional time in jail at a trial in 2010.
Both men pleaded not guilty.
Lebedev's lawyer said on August 8 that if the new prison term is not challenged, his client may be released on parole in March next year.
The court on August 8 reduced Lebedev's prison term from 13 years to 9 years and 8 months.
Lebedev and his business partner Khodorkovsky, the former head of Yukos oil company and once one of the richest people in Russia, were arrested in 2003 on charges of fraud and sentenced to nine years in jail.
New charges of embezzlement and money laundering were brought against Khodorkovsky and Lebedev and they were sentenced to additional time in jail at a trial in 2010.
Both men pleaded not guilty.
Lebedev's lawyer said on August 8 that if the new prison term is not challenged, his client may be released on parole in March next year.