THE Russian Government is seeking the extradition from Britain of the former deputy chief executive of Yukos, who was once touted as a successor to Mikhail Khodorkovsky as head of the oil group.

Alexandr Temerko is accused by Russian authorities of using forged documents to acquire a stake in Eniseyneftegaz, an oil company at the centre of a dispute between Yukos and Rosneft, the state oil group.

Mr Temerko, who has lived in London since November, is contesting the extradition. It is understood that his lawyers will tell Bow Street Magistrates’ Court today that he will be subject to political persecution if returned to Russia, where he is certain to face an unfair trial. Mr Temerko worked closely with Khodorkovsky, who is now serving an eight-year sentence in a Siberian jail.

President Putin came under fire from human rights groups for staging a show trial of Khodorkovsky, 42, once Russia’s richest man, to wrest control of Yukos from him. The company, whose biggest unit once accounted for 60 per cent of Russian oil production, has since been acquired by Rosneft.

Mr Khodorkovsky’s supporters say that he is being punished for displaying opposition to Mr Putin, who has vowed to continue to pursue oligarchs.

Analysts believe that Mr Putin wants the businessmen to give the government some of the vast fortunes that they accumulated from buying state assets in the 1990s.

The Kremlin has repeatedly sought extradition of Russian businessmen from London, where many have taken refuge. A refusal of extradition in Mr Temerko’s case would anger the Kremlin, whose relations with Britain have soured since the UK gave Boris Berezovsky, an oligarch, asylum in 2003.

The Temerko hearing is expected to last a fortnight.

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