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Vladimir Putin says he will pardon jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky Vladimir Putin says he will pardon jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky
(35 minutes later)
Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he would grant a pardon to Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly Russia's richest man, who has been in prison since 2003. Putin said he had recently received a request for a pardon signed by Khodorkovsky. Lawyers for the former oil tycoon, however, said that he had not made any such request. Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he would grant a pardon to Mikhail Khodorkovsky, formerly Russia's richest man, who has been in prison since 2003.
Putin made the comments after the conclusion of a marathon four-hour press conference in Moscow on Thursday. He was asked during the session whether Khodorkovsky, who has already faced two separate trials for economic crimes and is due to be released next August, might face a third trial. Putin was non-committal in his answer, but then following the end of the conference, in a conversation with journalists at the sidelines, said he would soon issue a pardon "in the nearest time". Putin said he had recently received a request for a pardon signed by Khodorkovsky. Lawyers for the former oil tycoon, however, said he had made no such request.
Khodorkovsky, said Putin, has spent "more than ten years in prison. It's a serious term." Putin made the comments after the conclusion of a marathon four-hour press conference in Moscow on Thursday. He was asked during the session whether Khodorkovsky, who has already faced two separate trials for economic crimes and is due to be released next August, might face a third trial. Putin was non-committal in his answer, but in a conversation with journalists at the sidelines afterwards he said he would soon issue a pardon "in the nearest time".
The former head of Yukos was arrested in 2003, and convicted of fraud in a 2005 trial widely regarded as punishment for breaking an unwritten agreement that oligarchs should not dabble in politics. He was then convicted of embezzlement during a second trial in 2010. During his time in prison, Khodorkovsky has become a fierce critic of the Putin system, penning sketches of prison life and critiques of the government from his cell. He said Khodorkovsky had spent "more than 10 years in prison. It's a serious term."
Khodorkovsky did not fall under the terms of a wide-ranging amnesty passed by Russia's parliament on Wednesday, which is set to see jailed punk rockers Pussy Riot walk free and the Greenpeace "Arctic 30" protesters allowed to leave Russia in the coming days. Khodorkovsky, the former head of Yukos, was arrested in 2003 and convicted of fraud in a 2005 trial widely regarded as punishment for breaking an unwritten agreement that oligarchs should not dabble in politics. He was then convicted of embezzlement during a second trial in 2010.
The sudden bout of clemency has been linked with an attempt to boost Russia's image in the runup to the Winter Olympics, due to be held in Sochi in February, however the move to free Khodorkovsky comes as a surprise. During his time in prison Khodorkovsky has become a fierce critic of the Putin system, penning sketches of prison life and critiques of the government from his cell.
Khodorkovsky did not fall under the terms of a wide-ranging amnesty passed by Russia's parliament on Wednesday, which is set to allow members of Pussy Riot to walk free and the Greenpeace Arctic 30 protesters to leave Russia in the coming days.
The sudden bout of clemency has been linked with an attempt to boost Russia's image in the runup to the Winter Olympics, due to be held in Sochi in February. However, the move to free Khodorkovsky comes as a surprise.
If Putin keeps his word, it will now depend on whether Khodorkovsky decides to appeal for pardon.If Putin keeps his word, it will now depend on whether Khodorkovsky decides to appeal for pardon.
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