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Mikhail Khodorkovsky applies for visa to visit Switzerland | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Russian former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has applied for a visa to travel to Switzerland, the Swiss foreign ministry says. | Russian former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has applied for a visa to travel to Switzerland, the Swiss foreign ministry says. |
A spokesman said Khodorkovsky submitted his request for a three-month Schengen visa at the Swiss embassy in Berlin. | |
Khodorkovsky, 50, a staunch critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, spent 10 years in a Russian prison for fraud and tax evasion. | |
He was pardoned and freed on Friday and immediately flew to Germany. | He was pardoned and freed on Friday and immediately flew to Germany. |
Swiss foreign ministry spokesman Stefan von Below told the Associated Press news agency that the visa request would probably be processed in the coming days. | |
He declined to give further details. | He declined to give further details. |
Schengen visas allow holders to travel to most EU countries without having their passports or other documents checked at the border. | |
Earlier, Khodorkovsky's spokeswoman, Olga Pispanen, told AFP news agency that he was considering moving to Switzerland where his twin sons go to school. | Earlier, Khodorkovsky's spokeswoman, Olga Pispanen, told AFP news agency that he was considering moving to Switzerland where his twin sons go to school. |
She said he was due to be reunited with his wife, Inna, and their three children in Berlin on Christmas Eve and he planned to discuss the idea with them. | She said he was due to be reunited with his wife, Inna, and their three children in Berlin on Christmas Eve and he planned to discuss the idea with them. |
"He is waiting for the family's arrival. They will sit down and discuss everything," she added. | "He is waiting for the family's arrival. They will sit down and discuss everything," she added. |
The former oligarch has always insisted that his conviction was politically motivated. | The former oligarch has always insisted that his conviction was politically motivated. |
At the time of his arrest he was Russia's richest man, and he used some of his wealth to fund opposition parties. | At the time of his arrest he was Russia's richest man, and he used some of his wealth to fund opposition parties. |
Khodorkovsky had been due to be released next August, but requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer. | Khodorkovsky had been due to be released next August, but requested a pardon because his mother is suffering from cancer. |
The pardon came after Russian MPs backed a wide-ranging amnesty for at least 20,000 prisoners. | The pardon came after Russian MPs backed a wide-ranging amnesty for at least 20,000 prisoners. |
Two members of punk protest band Pussy Riot - jailed for staging a protest in a Moscow cathedral - have also been freed and on Tuesday, Russian authorities dropped criminal charges against the first of 30 people accused of taking part in a Greenpeace protest in the Arctic. | Two members of punk protest band Pussy Riot - jailed for staging a protest in a Moscow cathedral - have also been freed and on Tuesday, Russian authorities dropped criminal charges against the first of 30 people accused of taking part in a Greenpeace protest in the Arctic. |
Analysts say Mr Putin may have been trying to ease international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi. | Analysts say Mr Putin may have been trying to ease international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi. |
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