MOSCOW, Aug. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- Jailed Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky is staging a hunger strike in support of his businesspartner Platon Lebedev, who is currently being held in solitary confinement, his lawyer said Tuesday.

    "On Aug. 19, ... my comrade Platon Lebedev was put into solitary confinement, with only three square meters of space," said a statement from Khodorkovsky, read by his lawyer Anton Drel,the Interfax news agency reported.

    "Platon is seriously ill; he has been incapable of taking prison walks for over a year. My friend was probably put in solitary confinement by the prison authorities as revenge against me for my articles and interviews," the statement said.

    Khodorkovsky was convicted of fraud and tax evasion and sentenced to nine years in prison in late May after a 13-month trial. Lebedev was also given a nine-year sentence. He was put into solitary confinement last week.

    Khodorkovsky began his hunger strike several days ago, Drel said in an interview with Echo Moscow radio, adding Khodorkovsky "is not looking very good, but he is lively." Enditem