Jailed Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said on Monday he had no money to support political parties opposed to President Vladimir Putin. Khodorkovsky was sentenced in May to nine years in prison for fraud and tax evasion after a trial which some analysts said was orchestrated by the Kremlin to rid itself of a political threat before the 2008 presidential election.
"As far as the financing of any political project by me is concerned, it is unfortunately impossible in the foreseeable future," Khodorkovsky said in a statement via his lawyers and distributed by his press service.
Oil major YUKOS, which he once controlled, has been brought to its knees by huge back-tax bills and its main asset is now in the hands of a state-controlled company. The Kremlin denies any political motives and says the case is about enforcing the law.
"All my funds have been taken away by a group of people who have seized and ruined YUKOS, once the most successful and flourishing company in the country," Khodorkovsky said.
Monday's statement by Khodorkovsky, who has so far avoided clarifying his political plans, referred to accusations by pro-Kremlin politicians that he had been supporting nationalist party Rodina.
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