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Khodorkovsky 'won't enter politics' Khodorkovsky 'won't enter politics'
(about 2 hours later)
Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was pardoned and released from prison on Friday, has said he will not enter politics.Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was pardoned and released from prison on Friday, has said he will not enter politics.
Khodorkovsky also told Russia's New Times magazine that he did not intend to fight for the return of assets from his disbanded oil company, Yukos.Khodorkovsky also told Russia's New Times magazine that he did not intend to fight for the return of assets from his disbanded oil company, Yukos.
The former oligarch said there were no conditions attached to his pardon by President Putin.The former oligarch said there were no conditions attached to his pardon by President Putin.
Khodorkovsky will make a statement to the media from Berlin later on Sunday.Khodorkovsky will make a statement to the media from Berlin later on Sunday.
He spent 10 years in a Russian prison for fraud and tax evasion, and has always insisted that his conviction was politically motivated as he used some of his wealth to fund opposition parties.He spent 10 years in a Russian prison for fraud and tax evasion, and has always insisted that his conviction was politically motivated as he used some of his wealth to fund opposition parties.
At the time of his arrest he was Russia's richest man. He became the country's best-known political prisoner.At the time of his arrest he was Russia's richest man. He became the country's best-known political prisoner.
'Stage-managed' exit'Stage-managed' exit
"I do not intend to get involved in politics and do not intend to fight for the return of assets," Khodorkovsky told The New Times. "I do not intend to get involved in politics and do not intend to fight for the return of assets," Khodorkovsky told The New Times, for which he has been writing as a columnist.
He acknowledged that his departure from Russia was stage-managed.He acknowledged that his departure from Russia was stage-managed.
"If someone wanted to make a movie about the 1970s and a deportation of a dissident you could not have done it better.""If someone wanted to make a movie about the 1970s and a deportation of a dissident you could not have done it better."
He said that while he had not been forced to leave Russia, "we can absolutely clearly understand that they suggested I leave the country."He said that while he had not been forced to leave Russia, "we can absolutely clearly understand that they suggested I leave the country."
He has now been reunited with his son and his parents, and said he would not return to his homeland until he was certain he could leave again at any time for family reasons.He has now been reunited with his son and his parents, and said he would not return to his homeland until he was certain he could leave again at any time for family reasons.
Khodorkovsky had been in prison since 2003 and was due to be released next August, but requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer.Khodorkovsky had been in prison since 2003 and was due to be released next August, but requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer.
President Vladimir Putin surprised Russians last week by agreeing to the pardon.President Vladimir Putin surprised Russians last week by agreeing to the pardon.
In a statement after his release on Friday, Khodorkovsky stressed he had not admitted guilt and made reference to those who have been "unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted".In a statement after his release on Friday, Khodorkovsky stressed he had not admitted guilt and made reference to those who have been "unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted".
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.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.
On his release, he was given a passport and the necessary documents to allow him to fly from St Petersburg to Berlin.On his release, he was given a passport and the necessary documents to allow him to fly from St Petersburg to Berlin.
The pardon for Khodorkovsky came after Russian MPs backed a wide-ranging amnesty for at least 20,000 prisoners.The pardon for Khodorkovsky came after Russian MPs 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.