Moscow - Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khordokovsky pleaded not guilty to charges of embezzlement and money laundering at a new trial on Tuesday.

"No, I do not admit guilt," Khordokovsky said after the charges were read out at a Moscow court.

Khordovovsky, former chief the oil concern Yukos, called the charges "nonsense" and vowed to defend himself against them, according to the news agency Interfax.

Moscow  - A Moscow court on Tuesday began hearing a case bringing serious charges of embezzlement and fraud against jailed ex- oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his partner Platon Lebedev.

Khodorkovsky denounced the trial as unfair as long as state prosecutors had charge of the case.

"The trial is absurd. It goes against all logic," he was quoted as news agency Interfax as saying in his statement.