PARIS, September 13 - RAPSI. The European Court of Human Rights is expected to issue its judgment on September 20 in the suit filed by YUKOS against Russia for over $98 billion, the Strasbourg Court reported.

YUKOS filed an appeal with the European Court in 2004 against Russian tax authorities for illegally confiscating the company's assets, and for selling at auction a 76.79 percent stake in Yuganskneftegaz.

The European Court accepted the appeal in late January 2009 and held public hearings in March 2010.

YUKOSs lawyer claimed that Russian authorities illegally charged the company 19.6 billion euros in extra taxes and penalties from 2000 until 2003.

Meanwhile, Russian authorities argue that YUKOS dodged tax laws during the same 2000-2003 period, and that Russia's sale of Yuganskneftegaz was in strict compliance with the law.