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Putin, Secure in Power, Says He May Free Jailed Rival Putin, Secure in Power, Says He May Free Jailed Rival
(about 3 hours later)
MOSCOW — With an eye perhaps to the coming Winter Olympics, President Vladimir V. Putin said on Thursday that Russia could soon free its most famous prisoner, Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former chief executive of Yukos Oil, whose arrest and imprisonment 10 years ago signaled an authoritarian turn in the nation’s modern history. MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin said on Thursday that Russia could soon free its most famous prisoner, Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former chief executive of Yukos Oil, whose arrest and jailing 10 years ago signaled an authoritarian turn in the nation’s modern history.
The release of Mr. Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man and an aspiring political rival, would be an unexpected and striking reversal for Mr. Putin. For a decade now, he has shown no signs of sympathy, let alone mercy, as the authorities dismantled Mr. Khodorkovsky’s company and pursued criminal charges — even as recently as this month — that seemed designed to keep him in prison for life. The release of Mr. Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man and an aspiring political rival, would be an unexpected and striking reversal for Mr. Putin. For a decade, he has shown no signs of sympathy, let alone mercy, as the authorities dismantled Mr. Khodorkovsky’s company and pursued criminal charges — even as recently as this month — that seemed intended to keep him in prison for life.
Mr. Putin, who commands singular political authority here, now appears to have the confidence to risk freeing a man who even in prison has persisted as one of his harshest political critics and who still has the will and financial resources to challenge not only the seizure of his company’s assets but Mr. Putin’s power. Mr. Putin, who commands singular political authority here, now appears to have the confidence to risk freeing a man who even in prison has persisted as one of his harshest political critics and who still has the will and financial resources to challenge not only the seizure of his company’s assets but Mr. Putin’s power. He may also have an eye to presenting a positive image to the outside world ahead of the Winter Olympics, which start in Sochi on Feb. 7.
It comes at a time when Mr. Putin has cut a large figure on the world stage, averting an American-led military strike on Syria and securing Russia’s sway over Ukraine as it was on the verge of moving closer to the European Union. Freedom would represent a new, if uncertain chapter for Mr. Khodorkovsky, who plunged from almost unimaginable wealth to a jail cell in the Karelia region near Finland, but still managed to maintain some visibility, including writing opinion articles for various newspapers and keeping a website, mostly detailing his case. Armed with at least hundreds of millions of dollars that experts say he managed to stash away in foreign banks before his arrest, Mr. Khodorkovsky would also have an opportunity to resume some of the activities that landed him in prison, presumably with more caution than in the past.
Mr. Putin spoke hours after the Russian Parliament adopted a sweeping amnesty law that could free a number of high-profile defendants whose politically charged cases symbolized what critics denounced as the repression of dissent. They include two performers from the punk protest group Pussy Riot and 30 Greenpeace activists who were detained in September after protesting oil exploration in the Arctic. This all comes at a time when Mr. Putin has cut a large figure on the world stage, averting an American-led military strike on Syria and securing Russia’s sway over Ukraine as it was on the verge of moving closer to the European Union.
A court here on Thursday dropped charges against four demonstrators suspected of being involved in a confrontation with the police after Mr. Putin’s election to another term in 2012. They were the first of perhaps thousands of defendants who stand to benefit from the amnesty. Mr. Putin spoke hours after the Russian Parliament adopted a sweeping amnesty law that could free several high-profile defendants whose politically charged cases symbolized what critics denounced as the repression of dissent. They include two performers from the punk protest group Pussy Riot and 30 Greenpeace activists who were detained in September after protesting oil exploration in the Arctic.
Mr. Putin proposed the amnesty to mark the 20th anniversary of Russia’s Constitution this month — and the Parliament dutifully obliged by passing it — but the timing also appeared intended to temper the harsh criticism of civil rights here ahead of the Winter Olympics, to be held in Sochi beginning Feb. 7. A court here on Thursday dropped charges against four demonstrators accused of being involved in a confrontation with the police after Mr. Putin’s election to another term in 2012. They were the first of perhaps thousands of defendants who stand to benefit from the amnesty.
Mr. Putin proposed the amnesty to mark the 20th anniversary of Russia’s Constitution this month — and the Parliament dutifully obliged by passing it — but the timing also appeared intended to temper the criticism of Russia’s civil rights record ahead of the Winter Olympics.
“It’s a decision to make our criminal justice policy more humane,” Mr. Putin said on Thursday during a marathon news conference that underscored his absolute political dominance here.“It’s a decision to make our criminal justice policy more humane,” Mr. Putin said on Thursday during a marathon news conference that underscored his absolute political dominance here.
He did not address the question of amnesty for Mr. Khodorkovsky during the news conference but rather in remarks he made to reporters afterward. He said that Mr. Khodorkovsky had appealed for clemency on humanitarian grounds, citing his mother’s declining health, and that a decision to grant him a pardon could come soon.He did not address the question of amnesty for Mr. Khodorkovsky during the news conference but rather in remarks he made to reporters afterward. He said that Mr. Khodorkovsky had appealed for clemency on humanitarian grounds, citing his mother’s declining health, and that a decision to grant him a pardon could come soon.
“He has already spent more than 10 years in confinement — this is a serious punishment,” he said. “He has already spent more than 10 years in confinement — this is a serious punishment,” Mr. Putin said. “His mother is ill, and I think that a decision can be taken, and in the near future a decree on his clemency will be signed.”
Mr. Putin added that he would consider the “humanitarian character” of Mr. Khodorkovsy’s appeal. “His mother is ill, and I think that a decision can be taken, and in the near future a decree on his clemency will be signed.”
The announcement that Mr. Khodorkovsky could soon walk free surprised his lawyers and representatives, and even his mother, Marina, who said she had heard nothing of it. “He needs to be released,” she told the Interfax news agency. “His children and even his grandchildren grew up without him.”The announcement that Mr. Khodorkovsky could soon walk free surprised his lawyers and representatives, and even his mother, Marina, who said she had heard nothing of it. “He needs to be released,” she told the Interfax news agency. “His children and even his grandchildren grew up without him.”
A statement on Mr. Khodorkovsky’s website indicated that it was premature to discuss his release. “It cannot be commented on whether a request on a pardon was made, by whom and for what reasons,” the statement said. “All of his family and supporters would of course be elated to see him finally free after 10 years of imprisonment.”A statement on Mr. Khodorkovsky’s website indicated that it was premature to discuss his release. “It cannot be commented on whether a request on a pardon was made, by whom and for what reasons,” the statement said. “All of his family and supporters would of course be elated to see him finally free after 10 years of imprisonment.”
Mr. Khodorkovsky, who spent his 50th birthday in June in a prison in the Karelia region near Finland, was one of the businessmen in the new Russia of the 1990s who amassed such staggering fortunes and political influence that they became known as oligarchs. A former member of the Communist Youth League, or Komsomol, Mr. Khodorkovsky seized the opportunity offered by Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s period of perestroika in the twilight of the Soviet era to open a cafe, which soon became a trading company and then a bank. Mr. Khodorkovsky, who spent his 50th birthday in June in prison, was one of the businessmen in the new Russia of the 1990s who amassed such staggering fortunes and political influence that they became known as oligarchs. A former member of the Communist Youth League, or Komsomol, Mr. Khodorkovsky seized the opportunity offered by Mikhail S. Gorbachev’s period of perestroika in the twilight of the Soviet era to open a cafe, which soon became a trading company and then a bank.
In 1995 he acquired the failing oil company that became Yukos, and in the tumultuous, often violent Wild East atmosphere of the era, he steadily expanded the company and his wealth in deals that were widely criticized as shadowy, if not corrupt. By the time Mr. Putin became president on New Year’s Eve in 1999, Mr. Khodorkovsky had emerged as the country’s richest man and sought to commit himself to modern corporate governance and philanthropy.In 1995 he acquired the failing oil company that became Yukos, and in the tumultuous, often violent Wild East atmosphere of the era, he steadily expanded the company and his wealth in deals that were widely criticized as shadowy, if not corrupt. By the time Mr. Putin became president on New Year’s Eve in 1999, Mr. Khodorkovsky had emerged as the country’s richest man and sought to commit himself to modern corporate governance and philanthropy.
Although spared Mr. Putin’s early prosecutorial assaults on oligarchs such as Vladimir A. Gusinsky and Boris A. Berezovksy, Mr. Khodorkovsky’s corporate and political ambitions soon clashed with Mr. Putin’s own consolidation of control. Although there are many theories behind Mr. Khodorkovsky’s arrest, most focus on his contributions to political parties before the 2003 parliamentary elections and Mr. Putin’s desire to bring natural resources back into the state’s hands. Although spared Mr. Putin’s early prosecutorial assaults on oligarchs, Mr. Khodorkovsky’s corporate and political ambitions soon clashed with Mr. Putin’s own consolidation of control. Although there are many theories on Mr. Khodorkovsky’s arrest, most focus on his political contributions in the 2003 parliamentary elections and Mr. Putin’s desire to bring natural resources back into the state’s hands.
Mr. Khodorkovsky’s first and second trial on charges of embezzlement and tax invasion, as well as the absorption of Yukos’s assets into the state oil company, Rosneft, were widely condemned as a vendetta by Mr. Putin against a rival in business and politics. After a second conviction in 2010, Mr. Khodorkovsky and his business partner, Platon A. Lebedev, were declared prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. Mr. Khodorkovsky’s two trials on charges of embezzlement and tax evasion, as well as the absorption of Yukos’s assets into the state oil company, Rosneft, were widely condemned as a vendetta by Mr. Putin against a rival in business and politics. After a second conviction in 2010, Mr. Khodorkovsky and his business partner, Platon A. Lebedev, were declared prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International.
Even with the end of their prison terms approaching in 2014, prosecutors said the two could face yet another trial that would keep them behind bars. Mr. Putin, when asked about that possibility during the news conference, discounted it. He said he did not see “special prospects” in the investigation but added that he did not know where the case stood — an assertion of noninterference in judicial matters that his critics dismissed as incredible. Prosecutors said that even with the end of their prison terms approaching in 2014, the two could face yet another trial that would keep them behind bars. Mr. Putin discounted that possibility at the news conference, but added that he did not know where the case stood — an assertion of noninterference in judicial matters that his critics dismissed as incredible.
Mr. Putin’s news conference — an annual ritual — lasted more than four hours and displayed a confidence, even buoyancy, that contrasted with last year’s when he was challenged with pointed questions about his return to the presidency and harsh policies such as a ban on the adoption of Russian orphans by American families. A year ago he also seemed tense and in pain from a lingering back injury. Mr. Putin’s news conference — an annual ritual — lasted more than four hours and displayed a confidence, even buoyancy, that contrasted with last year’s when he was challenged with pointed questions about his return to the presidency and contentious policies such as a ban on the adoption of Russian orphans by American families. A year ago he also seemed tense and in pain from a lingering back injury.
In the last year, Mr. Putin has largely neutered the political opposition and pursued a conservative political course. On Thursday, he was in high spirits and eager to banter with hundreds of reporters gathered in an auditorium of the World Trade Center. He arrived to the sound of triumphant music that seemed more suited for the opening of an action movie, and throughout the performance he showed little sign of the annoyance that can percolate when questioned. In the last year, Mr. Putin has largely neutered the political opposition and pursued a conservative political course. On Thursday, he was in high spirits and eager to banter with hundreds of reporters gathered in an auditorium of the World Trade Center.
He spoke with evident satisfaction about his decision to rescue Ukraine with $15 billion in loans and a sharp discount on natural gas, saying Russia was obliged to help its brotherly neighbor. The bailout left European officials stunned and scrambling for a response. He spoke with evident satisfaction about his decision to rescue Ukraine with $15 billion in loans and a sharp discount on natural gas, saying Russia was obliged to help its neighbor. The bailout left European officials stunned and scrambling for a response.
In recent months, Mr. Putin has sought to establish Russia as a dominant force to counterbalance the West, particularly the United States. On the decision to grant temporary asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the former contractor for the National Security Agency, he even teased that he was jealous of President Obama’s authority over sweeping intelligence programs. Recently, Mr. Putin has sought to establish Russia as a dominant force to counterbalance the West, particularly the United States. On the decision to grant temporary asylum to Edward J. Snowden, the former contractor for the National Security Agency, he even teased that he was jealous of President Obama’s authority over sweeping intelligence programs. “I envy him,” he said, “because he can do this without incurring any consequences.”
“I envy him,” he said, “because he can do all this, and he is not going to be punished for it.” He also offered an off-color aside. “Well, espionage is one of the oldest professions, along with some other professions that I will not elaborate about.” He also offered an off-color aside. “Spying has always existed, and it is one of the oldest professions, along with some others that I will not name here.”
In just over a month, Mr. Putin will play host to the Olympics in Sochi, and while Russia has portrayed it as an opportunity to showcase the country’s restoration, Mr. Putin’s leadership has faced fierce criticism for its human rights record, including a law banning propaganda on nontraditional relationships that is widely viewed in the West as an effort to suppress homosexuality.In just over a month, Mr. Putin will play host to the Olympics in Sochi, and while Russia has portrayed it as an opportunity to showcase the country’s restoration, Mr. Putin’s leadership has faced fierce criticism for its human rights record, including a law banning propaganda on nontraditional relationships that is widely viewed in the West as an effort to suppress homosexuality.
In response to a question about what seems to be a clash of cultures between Russia and the West, Mr. Putin said that Russia was merely defending its values and traditions, and he suggested that the West was trying to impose its views on others. Mr. Putin said Russia was merely defending its values and traditions, and he suggested that the West was trying to impose its views on others.
“It is not about criticizing somebody,” Mr. Putin said. “It is about protecting us from aggressive behavior on the part of some social groups, which I believe do not just live in a way they like, but they try to aggressively impose their opinion on other people and other countries.”“It is not about criticizing somebody,” Mr. Putin said. “It is about protecting us from aggressive behavior on the part of some social groups, which I believe do not just live in a way they like, but they try to aggressively impose their opinion on other people and other countries.”

Andrew Roth and Nikolay Khalip contributed reporting.

Andrew Roth and Nikolay Khalip contributed reporting.