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Freed Russian tycoon Khodorkovsky reunited with son Freed Russian tycoon Khodorkovsky reunited with son
(about 7 hours later)
Russian former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been reunited with his son after being freed from jail.Russian former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been reunited with his son after being freed from jail.
A spokesman for Khodorkovsky confirmed the reunion as he spent his first night of freedom in a decade, at a hotel in the German capital Berlin. A spokesman for Mr Khodorkovsky confirmed the reunion as he spent his first night of freedom in a decade, at a hotel in the German capital Berlin.
Olga Pispanen said the 50-year-old's parents are about to fly from Moscow to Berlin to see him. Olga Pispanen said the 50-year-old's parents were about to fly from Moscow to Berlin to see him.
President Vladimir Putin surprised Russians this week by announcing a pardon for Khodorkovsky. President Vladimir Putin surprised Russians this week by announcing a pardon for Mr Khodorkovsky.
Khodorkovsky, the former head of the now defunct oil giant Yukos and once Russia's richest man, had once been a vocal critic of Mr Putin and used his wealth to fund opposition parties. The former head of the now defunct oil giant Yukos, who was Russia's richest man at the time of his arrest in 2003, used his wealth to fund opposition parties and publicly sparred with Mr Putin.
Confirming he had requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer, Mr Khodorkovsky stressed he had not admitted guilt and made reference to those who have been "unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted".Confirming he had requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer, Mr Khodorkovsky stressed he had not admitted guilt and made reference to those who have been "unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted".
Convicted of tax evasion and theft, Mr Khodorkovsky had been in prison since 2003 and was due to be released next August.
'Hug him''Hug him'
Khodorkovsky's eldest son Pavel flew from the United States, where he lives, to Germany upon hearing the news of his father's release. Mr Khodorkovsky's eldest son Pavel flew from the United States, where he lives, to Germany upon hearing the news of his father's release.
Spokeswoman Olga Pispanen confirmed "they are now together in Berlin." Spokeswoman Olga Pispanen confirmed they were together in Berlin. The father is staying at the city's five-star Adlon Hotel.
She said his parents, Marina and Boris, are "ready to go to Berlin as well in order to... hug him". She said his parents, Marina and Boris, were ready to go to Berlin as well in order to "hug" him.
Khodorkovsky left the penal colony where he was being held, in the Karelia region of north-western Russia close to the Finnish border, early on Friday afternoon. Mr Khodorkovsky left the penal colony where he was being held, in the Karelia region of north-western Russia close to the Finnish border, early on Friday afternoon.
Upon his release, he was given a passport and the necessary documents to allow him to fly from St Petersburg to Berlin. Upon his release, he was given a passport and the necessary documents to allow him to fly from St Petersburg to Berlin, where he was greeted by former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher.
He is believed to be staying at Berlin's Adlon Hotel. His private flight to Berlin was organised by Mr Genscher, who had spent years lobbying for his release, meeting Mr Putin twice to discuss the issue.
Convicted of tax evasion and theft, Khodorkovsky has been in prison since 2003 and was due to be released next August. An aide to the former foreign minister, political scientist Alexander Rahr, told Germany's Spiegel magazine he believed Mr Genscher had kept in close contact with German Chancellor Angela Merkel over the Khodorkovsky case.