![Russian prosecutors call for maximum sentence against Khodorkovsky](https://www.jurist.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/jurist-white-text.png)
[JURIST] After resting their case, Russian prosecutors Tuesday asked a Russian trial court to convict ex-Yukos [Wikipedia entry] CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky [JURIST news archive] of tax and fraud charges, and asked that he receive the maximum 10 year sentence. Khodorkovsky has been the target of a lengthy court process stemming from the acquisition of shares in a fertilizer-component maker in 1994. However, the court ruled that the statute of limitations on the fertilizer case had expired and the only charges on which the he could be sentenced were tax evasion and document fraud. Khodorkovsky has maintained that he is not guilty of any charges, contending that under the law of the time, the deals were not illegal. Defense lawyers say that they expect a court ruling in May. AP has more.