President Vladimir Putin says he will pardon jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky after more than a decade in prison.
Putin told reporters after his marathon news conference Thursday that Khodorkovsky submitted an appeal for pardon and he intends to grant it.
He says that Khodorkovsky has “spent more than 10 years in prison. It’s a serious term.”
He adds that he will be granted pardon “in the nearest time.”
The move appeared to be part of Putin’s effort to assuage international criticism of his rule ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi that start in February, AP informs.
