Putin to pardon jailed tycoon Khodorkovsky


December 19, 2013 at 10:00a.m.

Putin to pardon jailed tycoon Khodorkovsky

MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin said today he will pardon jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a surprise decision that will let his top foe and Russia’s formerly richest man out of prison after more than a decade. The move, along with an amnesty for the two jailed members of the Pussy Riot punk band and the 30-member crew of a Greenpeace ship, appears designed to assuage international criticism of Russia’s rights record ahead of February’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Putin’s pet project.