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| Russian ex-tycoon Khodorkovsky may seek UK asylum | Russian ex-tycoon Khodorkovsky may seek UK asylum |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, says he is considering applying for political asylum in the UK and feels safe in London. | Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, says he is considering applying for political asylum in the UK and feels safe in London. |
| He was speaking in a BBC interview after a Russian court declared him "under arrest in absentia" over the 1990s murder of a Siberian mayor. | |
| "Definitely I'm considering asking for asylum in the UK," he said. | "Definitely I'm considering asking for asylum in the UK," he said. |
| Mr Putin "sees me - it's obvious now - as a serious threat", he said. | Mr Putin "sees me - it's obvious now - as a serious threat", he said. |
| Once Russia's richest man, the former head of the now defunct Yukos oil firm spent 10 years in a Siberian prison on fraud charges, which he says were politically motivated. | Once Russia's richest man, the former head of the now defunct Yukos oil firm spent 10 years in a Siberian prison on fraud charges, which he says were politically motivated. |
| Mr Putin pardoned him in 2013 and he now lives abroad, mainly in Switzerland. | Mr Putin pardoned him in 2013 and he now lives abroad, mainly in Switzerland. |
| "I'm considered by President Putin as a threat, economically, because of the possible seizure of Russian assets abroad, and politically, as someone who will potentially help democratic candidates in the coming 2016 elections," he said. | "I'm considered by President Putin as a threat, economically, because of the possible seizure of Russian assets abroad, and politically, as someone who will potentially help democratic candidates in the coming 2016 elections," he said. |
| Russia will hold elections to the lower house of parliament - the State Duma - next year. The Duma is currently dominated by Mr Putin's supporters. | Russia will hold elections to the lower house of parliament - the State Duma - next year. The Duma is currently dominated by Mr Putin's supporters. |
| London base? | London base? |
| The BBC's Richard Galpin asked Mr Khodorkovsky whether he felt at risk in light of the murders of prominent opponents of Mr Putin in recent years. Among them was former secret agent Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned with radioactive polonium in a London hotel in 2006. | The BBC's Richard Galpin asked Mr Khodorkovsky whether he felt at risk in light of the murders of prominent opponents of Mr Putin in recent years. Among them was former secret agent Alexander Litvinenko, poisoned with radioactive polonium in a London hotel in 2006. |
| "The history of deaths of opponents of this regime is impressive... but I was in jail for 10 years, I could have been killed any day easily. In London I feel much safer than during those years," he replied. | "The history of deaths of opponents of this regime is impressive... but I was in jail for 10 years, I could have been killed any day easily. In London I feel much safer than during those years," he replied. |
| When he left Russia in 2013 he said he would not get involved in politics - which was was widely believed to have been the reason for his early release. | When he left Russia in 2013 he said he would not get involved in politics - which was was widely believed to have been the reason for his early release. |
| He told the BBC on Wednesday that he would "help young political activists in Russia to gain political experience and present an alternative to the existing regime". | He told the BBC on Wednesday that he would "help young political activists in Russia to gain political experience and present an alternative to the existing regime". |
| He said it was "far too optimistic" to speak of regime change in Russia now, "but I'm quite confident that within 10 years the regime will be changed and I hope I will play a significant role in that". | He said it was "far too optimistic" to speak of regime change in Russia now, "but I'm quite confident that within 10 years the regime will be changed and I hope I will play a significant role in that". |
| Charge sheet | Charge sheet |
| Earlier, referring to the Russian order for his arrest, he said the Moscow authorities had "gone mad". | Earlier, referring to the Russian order for his arrest, he said the Moscow authorities had "gone mad". |
| He is accused of ordering several of his employees to kill both the mayor and a businessman, who survived. | He is accused of ordering several of his employees to kill both the mayor and a businessman, who survived. |
| Investigators allege Vladimir Petukhov, the mayor of Nefteyugansk, was killed on 26 June 1998 for demanding Mr Khodorkovsky's oil firm, Yukos, pay taxes that the company had allegedly been avoiding. | Investigators allege Vladimir Petukhov, the mayor of Nefteyugansk, was killed on 26 June 1998 for demanding Mr Khodorkovsky's oil firm, Yukos, pay taxes that the company had allegedly been avoiding. |
| Local businessman Yevgeny Rybin was allegedly targeted because his activities "clashed with Yukos's interests", Russia's powerful Investigative Committee (SK) said in a statement (in Russian). | Local businessman Yevgeny Rybin was allegedly targeted because his activities "clashed with Yukos's interests", Russia's powerful Investigative Committee (SK) said in a statement (in Russian). |
| Mr Rybin survived a gun attack in November 1998 and a second attack on his car in March 1999, when another man in the vehicle was killed and several people were injured. | Mr Rybin survived a gun attack in November 1998 and a second attack on his car in March 1999, when another man in the vehicle was killed and several people were injured. |
| Five people have already been tried for the attacks and the arrest warrant is unlikely to make any difference unless Mr Khodorkovsky returns to Russia, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Moscow. | Five people have already been tried for the attacks and the arrest warrant is unlikely to make any difference unless Mr Khodorkovsky returns to Russia, the BBC's Sarah Rainsford reports from Moscow. |
| Armed police raided the Moscow offices of Mr Khodorkovsky's Open Russia pro-democracy movement on Tuesday, in a move that authorities said was linked to allegations of tax evasion. The flats of at least seven activists who work for Mr Khodorkovsky were also searched. | Armed police raided the Moscow offices of Mr Khodorkovsky's Open Russia pro-democracy movement on Tuesday, in a move that authorities said was linked to allegations of tax evasion. The flats of at least seven activists who work for Mr Khodorkovsky were also searched. |
| After Mr Khodorkovsky was arrested in 2003, Yukos was broken up and taken over by a state oil firm. | After Mr Khodorkovsky was arrested in 2003, Yukos was broken up and taken over by a state oil firm. |
| Last year an international arbitration court in The Hague said Russian officials had manipulated the legal system to bankrupt Yukos, and jail Mikhail Khodorkovsky. | Last year an international arbitration court in The Hague said Russian officials had manipulated the legal system to bankrupt Yukos, and jail Mikhail Khodorkovsky. |
| The court told Russia to pay former shareholders in Yukos $50bn (£32bn) in compensation. | The court told Russia to pay former shareholders in Yukos $50bn (£32bn) in compensation. |
| Timeline: Mikhail Khodorkovsky | Timeline: Mikhail Khodorkovsky |
| 1963 - Born in Moscow, son of chemical engineers | 1963 - Born in Moscow, son of chemical engineers |
| 1987 - Founds Menatep bank | 1987 - Founds Menatep bank |
| 1995 - Buys Yukos for $350m, with Menatep assuming $2bn in debt | 1995 - Buys Yukos for $350m, with Menatep assuming $2bn in debt |
| 2003 - Arrested for tax evasion, embezzlement and fraud | 2003 - Arrested for tax evasion, embezzlement and fraud |
| 2005 - Found guilty on six of seven charges, jailed for eight years | 2005 - Found guilty on six of seven charges, jailed for eight years |
| 2007 - Yukos declared bankrupt | 2007 - Yukos declared bankrupt |
| 2010 - Convicted of embezzlement and money laundering | 2010 - Convicted of embezzlement and money laundering |
| 2013 - Pardoned by President Putin after request for clemency; leaves Russia for Germany | 2013 - Pardoned by President Putin after request for clemency; leaves Russia for Germany |
| 2015 - Charged with ordering 1990s murder of Siberian mayor; says he is considering asking for political asylum in the UK | 2015 - Charged with ordering 1990s murder of Siberian mayor; says he is considering asking for political asylum in the UK |