Putin says 'surprised' by second Khodorkovsky trial: media
Putin
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said in an interview published Monday he was "surprised" by the second trial of jailed oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky  widely seen as orchestrated by the Kremlin.
 Interviewed by the daily Kommersant  Putin said he was surprised when prosecutors in 2008 announced fresh charges against the former Yukos chief that could see him serve two more decades in jail.
 "When I heard about the second trial  I was very surprised and asked what case this was  since he is already serving time for what he did. What is this second trial?" Putin said.
 At the time of his arrest in 2003  Khodorkovsky  once Russia's richest man  was seen as a political rival to Putin.
 Putin denied having involvement in the case and said he supported the second trial. "If such a case is being heard  it means that the law requires it. I'm not in charge of this case " he said.
 Asked by the paper why he "hounded Khodorkovsky into a corner " Putin denied the charge.
 "He is being justifiably punished " Putin said. "He will come out of prison and he will be a free man. No  I definitely never pushed him into a corner."
[TGT] said in an interview published Monday [TGT] was "surprised" by the second trial of jailed oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky  widely seen as orchestrated by the Kremlin.
 Interviewed by the daily Kommersant  [TGT] said [TGT] was surprised when prosecutors in 2008 announced fresh charges against the former Yukos chief that could see [TGT] serve two more decades in jail.
 "When I heard about the second trial  I was very surprised and asked what case this was  since [TGT] is already serving time for what [TGT] did. What is this second trial?" [TGT] said.
 At the time of [TGT] arrest in 2003  Khodorkovsky  once Russia's richest man  was seen as a political rival to [TGT].
 [TGT] denied having involvement in the case and said [TGT] supported the second trial. "If such a case is being heard  it means that the law requires it. I'm not in charge of this case " [TGT] said.
 Asked by the paper why [TGT] "hounded Khodorkovsky into a corner [TGT] denied the charge.
 "[TGT] is being justifiably punished [TGT] said. "[TGT] will come out of prison and [TGT] will be a free man. No  I definitely never pushed [TGT] into a corner."