Court reverses lower sentence for Lebedev

MOSCOW, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- A Russian court Friday reversed a lower court's decision to lower the sentence of a former businessman serving time for fraud and tax evasion.

In August, the lower court reduced Platon Lebedev's sentence from 13 years to nine years and eight months, RIA Novosti reported.

Lebedev's case has now been sent back to a lower court for further consideration.

Lebedev and his business partner, oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, were convicted of fraud and tax evasion at trials in 2005 and 2010.

Both trials were criticized in other countries, with allegations the prosecution against the two men was politically motivated. The allegations were denied by Russian authorities.