Yukos ex-VP transferred to civilian clinic

Former Yukos vice-president Vasily Aleksanyan has been transferred from a pre-trial detention centre to a specialised civilian hospital. Aleksanyan is suffering from AIDS and cancer and possibly tuberculosis.

This transfer comes after a long legal battle to decide whether the businessman should be allowed treatment outside prison.

Aleksanyan is accused of money-laundering and embezzlement.

On Wednesday the court agreed to suspend the trial for the duration of treatment, but said Aleksanyan had to remain in custody.

Aleksnyan will be under 24-hour guard while in hospital.

Aleksanyan's former boss, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who has been on hunger strike in support of his colleague, promised stop his protest as soon as the transfer is confirmed.