Khodorkovsky was held in a Moscow detention center during his second trial, which ended in December with him being found guilty of stealing tens of billions of dollars worth of oil from his own company.

His transfer back to prison has been expected following the rejection of his appeal May 24.

His elderly parents expressed hope that he would not be sent far from Moscow as he was following his first conviction in 2003.

Lawyer Vadim Klyuvgant said he was informed by the detention center Friday that Khodorkovsky had been transferred to a prison colony but not told where.