MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian prosecutors have brought new charges against jailed former oil businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky, his legal team said on Monday.
The lawyers said they had yet to establish what the newcharges were but believed they were a version of moneylaundering charges prosecutors have been preparing for over ayear.
Khodorkovsky, who controlled the now-dismantled Russian oilcompany Yukos, has served just over half of an eight-yearprison term on fraud and tax evasion charges.
"The new charges were presented on 30th of June," hisdefence team said in a statement posted on its websitewww.khodorkovsky.ru.
Prosecutors said they could not immediately comment.
Khodorkovsky has maintained his innocence and said thecharges against him were fabricated as punishment forchallenging the Kremlin. Russian officials say he is a criminalwho received a fair trial.
Prosecutors have for over a year been preparing to try himon a new set of charges for money laundering.
Khodorkovsky's legal team said they believed the newcharges presented on Monday were a recycled version of thoseexisting money laundering charges. They said they believedannouncing new charges was a ruse by prosecutors to play fortime.
"The defence can find no explanation other than the lack ofcertainty among the prosecutors and -- taking into accountchanges that have happened at the top of the government -- itsdesire to play for time, in the hope of receiving newinstructions and confirmation of support from the top," thelawyers' statement said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev took office in early Mayand has promised to improve legal standards. Medvedev has yetto give any indication of his views on the Khodorkovsky case.
Yukos was presented with huge back-tax bills and split upin state-ordered auctions. Most of the firm's assets have beenabsorbed into Russian state-controlled oil firm Rosneft.
Khodorkovsky's international lawyer Robert Amsterdam saidthe new charges were without foundation.
"The Russians have a problem, as the charges, as in earlierproceedings, are on the face of it absurd," he told Reuters.
"This buys time them time and while we have not completed areview of the charges, they seem similar, if not identical.This is an entirely political case and it can only be resolvedat a political level," he said.
When asked if they had any indication of Medvedev's viewstowards the jailed businessman, Amsterdam replied: "None".
But the lawyer said he anticipated that Khodorkovsky wouldseek to be freed from jail soon.
"I believe the recommendation has been made for him to seeksome form of release and I believe that will be pursed by him,but we have no idea what the reaction would be."
(Reporting by Christian Lowe and Conor Sweeney; Editing byElizabeth Piper)