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Khodorkovsky arrives in Germany after Putin pardon Khodorkovsky arrives in Germany after Putin pardon
(about 1 hour later)
Russian ex-tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has arrived in Germany, hours after being pardoned by President Vladimir Putin and freed from a decade in jail.Russian ex-tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has arrived in Germany, hours after being pardoned by President Vladimir Putin and freed from a decade in jail.
Russian prison officials said Mr Khodorkovsky, 50, had requested travel papers to see his sick mother there. In a statement Mr Khodorkovsky, 50, confirmed he had asked Mr Putin for a pardon due to "family circumstances" - his mother is ill.
Mr Khodorkovsky's father told AP he and his wife were still in Moscow but were planning to fly to Germany, where she has been treated in the past. He did not admit guilt and referred to those who were "unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted" in his case.
Mr Putin earlier said he had signed the pardon on "the principles of humanity".Mr Putin earlier said he had signed the pardon on "the principles of humanity".
Mr Khodorkovsky, the former head of the now defunct oil giant Yukos and once Russia's richest man, had been jailed for tax evasion and theft after funding opposition parties. Mr Khodorkovsky, the former head of the now defunct oil giant Yukos, was once Russia's richest man and had used his wealth to fund opposition parties.
He was jailed for tax evasion and theft.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was "happy" that Mr Khodorkovsky had been freed.
'Personal request''Personal request'
Mr Khodorkovsky left the penal colony where he was being held, in the Karelia region of north-western Russia, early on Friday afternoon.Mr Khodorkovsky left the penal colony where he was being held, in the Karelia region of north-western Russia, early on Friday afternoon.
Russia's Federal Penal Service, quoted by news agency Interfax, said: "In the course of his release, Khodorkovsky asked for a passport for foreign travel. His request was met.Russia's Federal Penal Service, quoted by news agency Interfax, said: "In the course of his release, Khodorkovsky asked for a passport for foreign travel. His request was met.
"Once he was released from prison, he left for Germany, where his mother is undergoing treatment. "Once he was released from prison, he left for Germany. We stress that the flight took place at his request and his exit documents were processed at his personal request."
"We stress that the flight took place at his request and his exit documents were processed at his personal request."
The German foreign ministry later confirmed that Mr Khodorkovsky had landed at Schoenefeld airport in Berlin, after the German embassy in Moscow had facilitated his departure from Russia.The German foreign ministry later confirmed that Mr Khodorkovsky had landed at Schoenefeld airport in Berlin, after the German embassy in Moscow had facilitated his departure from Russia.
A representative of the German foreign ministry was at the airport to meet him.A representative of the German foreign ministry was at the airport to meet him.
Mr Khodorkovsky reportedly flew on a private jet from St Petersburg.
The Associated Press (AP) quoted a spokesperson for the energy consulting firm, OBO Bettermann, as saying that former German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher had asked the company to provide a plane.The Associated Press (AP) quoted a spokesperson for the energy consulting firm, OBO Bettermann, as saying that former German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher had asked the company to provide a plane.
Mr Khodorkovsky's mother, Marina, 79, has been treated in Germany before. In a statement attributed to Mr Khodorkovsky and posted on a Facebook account registered to his press secretary, Olga Pispanen, he said: "On November 12, I asked the president of Russia to pardon me due to my family situation, and I am glad his decision was positive.
"The issue of admission of guilt was not raised.
"I would like to thank everyone who has been following the Yukos case all these years for the support you provided to me, my family and all those who were unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted.
"I am constantly thinking of those who continue to remain imprisoned."
He also thanked Hans-Dietrich Genscher "for his personal involvement in my fate".
Mr Khodorkovsky's ill mother, Marina, 79, has been treated in Germany before.
However, Mr Khodorkovsky's father, Boris, told AP that he and his wife were still in Moscow and were planning to fly to Germany on Saturday.However, Mr Khodorkovsky's father, Boris, told AP that he and his wife were still in Moscow and were planning to fly to Germany on Saturday.
Reuters quoted Mr Khodorkovsky's mother as saying she was waiting in Moscow and would leave Russia to see him if necessary.Reuters quoted Mr Khodorkovsky's mother as saying she was waiting in Moscow and would leave Russia to see him if necessary.
Mr Khodorkovsky was jailed after being convicted of stealing oil and laundering money in 2010. Mr Khodorkovsky has been in prison since 2003 and was due to be released next August.
He had been in prison since 2003 when he was arrested and later convicted on charges of tax evasion. He was due to be released next August.
The presidential pardon came after Russian MPs on Wednesday backed a wide-ranging amnesty for at least 20,000 prisoners.The presidential pardon came after Russian MPs on Wednesday backed a wide-ranging amnesty for at least 20,000 prisoners.
Mr Putin confirmed it would apply to the two members of punk band Pussy Riot still in prison and Greenpeace activists detained for their protest at a Russian oil rig in the Arctic.Mr Putin confirmed it would apply to the two members of punk band Pussy Riot still in prison and Greenpeace activists detained for their protest at a Russian oil rig in the Arctic.
Analysts say Mr Putin may be trying to ease international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi.Analysts say Mr Putin may be trying to ease international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi.