Ex-tycoon, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was released Friday following Vladimir Putin’s pardon.
Putin’s pardon gained a lot of attention on Thursday. USA Today reports that Khodorkovsky has spent the last 10 years in prison on charges of tax evasion and embezzlement. His arrest and prosecution have been considered as Putin’s retribution for Khodorkovsky’s political ambitions. Khodorkovsky was jailed after funding parties that opposed Putin.
Putin and Khodorkovsky were political opponents nearly 10 years ago. According to BBC News, Khodorkovsky made a lot of money after the collapse of the Soviet Union and he used his wealth, gained through his oil company, to enter politics.
Putin says that he has issued the pardon because Khodorkovsky’s mother’s health has been deteriorating. He also said that he was “guided by the principles of humanity” to pardon Khodorkovsky.
Many Russians are skeptical that Khodorkovsky was released solely on humanitarian grounds. Some Analysts say that Putin has pardoned Khodorkovsky in attempt to ease criticism of Russia’s human rights before February’s Winter Olympics.