Post date: Dec 19, 2013 3:25:50 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin says he will soon pardon jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
CHITA, RUSSIA (REUTERS) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (December 19) he would soon pardon jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who still has eight months left to serve of a more than 10-year jail sentence.
A lawyer for Khodorkovsky said however that the tycoon had not asked Putin for a pardon. Khodorkovsky was jailed on charges including theft and fraud but the president's opponents regard him as a political prisoner.Khodorkovsky, 50, was Russia's richest man before he was jailed on tax evasion and fraud charges in 2003.
Throughout his presidency Putin maintained a tough line against Khodorkovsky, who was arrested after showing political ambitions and falling out with the Kremlin.
Khodorkovsky, who was the head of the Yukos oil company that was broken up and sold off into state hands after his arrest, denies the charges against him.