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Deep Ties Between Russia and Germany on Display in Prisoner’s Release Deep Russia-Germany Ties Behind a Prisoner’s Release
(about 4 hours later)
BERLIN — Germany and Russia, friends or foes for centuries but always near neighbors, have special, deep ties unlike those between the Kremlin and any other outside power. It was that relationship, and the select few people who enjoy access to it, that won freedom for Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former oil billionaire suddenly granted clemency by President Vladimir V. Putin and flown to Berlin.BERLIN — Germany and Russia, friends or foes for centuries but always near neighbors, have special, deep ties unlike those between the Kremlin and any other outside power. It was that relationship, and the select few people who enjoy access to it, that won freedom for Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former oil billionaire suddenly granted clemency by President Vladimir V. Putin and flown to Berlin.
Chancellor Angela Merkel, a Russian speaker who has a matter-of-fact, occasionally frosty relationship to Mr. Putin, and her Social Democratic predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, who maintains warm ties to the Russian leader, both raised Mr. Khodorkovsky’s case with Mr. Putin over the decade of his imprisonment. But it was a highly experienced former foreign minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, who at the age of 86 achieved an agreement with Mr. Putin. Chancellor Angela Merkel, a Russian speaker who has a matter-of-fact, occasionally frosty relationship with Mr. Putin, and her Social Democratic predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, who maintains warm ties to the Russian leader, both raised Mr. Khodorkovsky’s case with Mr. Putin over the decade of his imprisonment. But it was a highly experienced former foreign minister, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, who at the age of 86 achieved an agreement with Mr. Putin.
That involved two personal meetings between Mr. Genscher and Mr. Putin – one at Berlin’s Tegel airport at the end of Mr. Putin’s first visit to Germany after he was re-elected in 2012, the other in Moscow, according to the German news media and statements from Mr. Genscher himself. That involved two meetings between Mr. Genscher and Mr. Putin — one at Tegel airport in Berlin at the end of Mr. Putin’s first visit to Germany after he was re-elected in 2012, the other in Moscow, according to the German news media and statements from Mr. Genscher himself.
Ms. Merkel was kept informed of the highly secret talks, as was the top echelon of the German Embassy in Moscow, which expedited a visa for Mr. Khodorkovsky late last week once it became clear from Mr. Putin’s surprising talk of clemency on Thursday that it would be granted, probably swiftly. Ms. Merkel was kept informed of the secret talks, as was the top echelon of the German Embassy in Moscow, which expedited a visa for Mr. Khodorkovsky late last week once it became clear from Mr. Putin’s surprising talk of clemency on Thursday that it would be granted.
In his prison near the Finnish border, Mr. Khodorkovsky said he followed the suddenly rapid events on radio and television. First, he heard Mr. Putin, during his annual news conference, all but rule out a third case against him. Then he saw Mr. Putin, speaking to reporters after the news conference, suddenly raise the prospect of clemency.In his prison near the Finnish border, Mr. Khodorkovsky said he followed the suddenly rapid events on radio and television. First, he heard Mr. Putin, during his annual news conference, all but rule out a third case against him. Then he saw Mr. Putin, speaking to reporters after the news conference, suddenly raise the prospect of clemency.
Mr. Khodorkovsky’s first thought was to gather up his valuable papers, and prepare to leave, he said over the weekend. The few people in the prison who spoke with him – it was risky for prisoners to do so, he told The New Times weekly, a Russian newspaper – shook his hand in congratulations. The inmates, like Mr. Khodorkovsky, understood that in the way the Russian system works, once Mr. Putin had mentioned clemency, his most famous prisoner would be leaving soon. Mr. Khodorkovsky’s first thought was to gather up his valuable papers and prepare to leave, he said over the weekend. Fellow inmates who spoke with him, he told The New Times, a weekly Russian newspaper, shook his hand in congratulations. The inmates, like Mr. Khodorkovsky, understood that once Mr. Putin had mentioned clemency, his most famous prisoner would be leaving soon.
Mr. Khodorkovsky said he went to bed as usual, and had no trouble sleeping. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday, he was awoken, and told to leave. He was flown eventually to St. Petersburg, and on to Germany, where he was greeted by Mr. Genscher and Alexander Rahr, a German academic with close ties to the Kremlin. Mr. Khodorkovsky said he went to bed as usual, and had no trouble sleeping. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday, he was awoken and told to leave. He was flown eventually to St. Petersburg, and on to Germany, where he was greeted by Mr. Genscher and Alexander Rahr, a German academic with close ties to the Kremlin.
Mr. Genscher, who was Europe’s longest serving foreign minister when he stepped down after 18 years in the post in 1992, citing ill health, has long had a reputation as a dealmaker who preserves secrets but gives involved parties the sense they are getting what they seek. It was characteristic on Friday that he gave a brief statement to German television, saying that he did not see Mr. Putin’s act as staged, but one that was seriously weighed and considered. He declined to elaborate on his own part. “What is important is the result,” Mr. Genscher said. “That a man who spent 10 years in prison is now free.” Mr. Genscher, who was Europe’s longest serving foreign minister when he stepped down after 18 years in the post in 1992, citing ill health, has long had a reputation as a deal maker who preserves secrets but gives involved parties the sense they are getting what they seek. It was characteristic on Friday that he gave a brief statement to German television, saying that he did not see Mr. Putin’s act as staged. He declined to elaborate on his own part. “What is important is the result,” Mr. Genscher said.
Ms. Merkel, commenting on Friday on Mr. Khodorkovsky’s release, said it was the result of “a window of possibilities” that had opened. She did not explain, but the phrasing suggested she was not only aware of the top-secret negotiations – which as chancellor she would have to be – but also informed about their pace. Ms. Merkel, commenting on Friday on Mr. Khodorkovsky’s release, said it was the result of “a window of possibilities.” She did not explain, but the phrasing suggested she was not only aware of the top-secret negotiations, but informed about their pace.
It was not clear if her reference to a “window” was an allusion to the Winter Olympic games in Sochi, which Mr. Putin clearly sees as the prestige project of his presidency, allocating tens of billions of dollars to staging what he hopes will be a spectacle. It was not clear if her reference to a “window” was an allusion to the Winter Olympics in Sochi, which Mr. Putin sees as the prestige project of his presidency.
Mr. Khodorkovsky himself said on Sunday that he thought his release was due in part to Sochi and Mr. Putin’s desire to burnish Russia’s image. Mr. Khodorkovsky said on Sunday that he thought his release was due in part to Sochi and Mr. Putin’s desire to burnish Russia’s image.
Mr. Genscher is one of a cluster of aged, experienced figures who enjoy great respect in Germany and continue to be well connected long after having left office. Mr. Genscher is one of a cluster of older, experienced figures who enjoy great respect in Germany and remain well connected. Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who turned 95 on Monday, is another such figure. On a self-described farewell tour of various countries, he was in Moscow recently to see retired officials he knows from the Soviet era, and was then invited to meet Mr. Putin. The two discussed Russian-German ties, and how whether they are enemies, as in World War II, or on the same side, as in rejoicing in Napoleon’s defeat in Russia in 1812, they will always be dealing with each other, Mr. Schmidt said.
Former Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, who turned 95 on Monday, is another such figure. On a self-described farewell tour of various countries, he was in Moscow in recent weeks to see retired officials he knows from the Soviet era, and was then invited to meet Mr. Putin in the Kremlin. The two discussed Russian-German ties, and how whether they are enemies, as in World War II, or on the same side, as in rejoicing in Napoleon’s defeat in Russia in 1812, they will always be dealing with one another, Mr. Schmidt said.

Melissa Eddy contributed reporting.

As Ms. Merkel noted last Friday, Russia is always “a strategic partner.” And so, even after Mr. Khodorkovsky’s release, there will be “further discussions about other points on which we certainly still have differing opinions.”