[JURIST] The Moscow City Court has denied the appeal [press release] of former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky [defense website; JURIST news archive], saying it could find no grounds to reconsider Khodorkovsky's eight-year prison sentence [JURIST news archive]. Khodorkovsky's lawyers have said they will continue the appeals process [MBK backgrounder], petitioning the Russian Supreme Court [official website, in Russian]. A separate appeal of Khodorkovsky's conviction on fraud and tax evasion charges [JURIST report] is pending before the European Court of Human Rights [JURIST report]. MosNews has more.

Also Wednesday, Khodorkovsky was transferred to hospital facilities in the Siberian prison where he is serving his sentence after suffering problems in connection with a hunger strike. Earlier this week, Khodorkovsky went on hunger strike for two days to protest his solitary confinement. He has been separated from other prisoners since mid-April when he was assaulted by his cellmate [JURIST report]. RFE/RL has more.