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Khodorkovsky to be freed in 2014 after sentence cut | Khodorkovsky to be freed in 2014 after sentence cut |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Imprisoned former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky is due for early release in 2014 after a Russian court cut two years off his term for embezzlement. | Imprisoned former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky is due for early release in 2014 after a Russian court cut two years off his term for embezzlement. |
He is serving his sentence in a prison near the Arctic Circle after being convicted in 2010 at a trial dismissed by supporters as politically motivated. | He is serving his sentence in a prison near the Arctic Circle after being convicted in 2010 at a trial dismissed by supporters as politically motivated. |
A Moscow court cited legal changes in reducing the term. | A Moscow court cited legal changes in reducing the term. |
Responding to the news, Khodorkovsky's lawyer said his client was "innocent and should be released immediately". | |
The former head of oil giant Yukos was convicted of fraud and tax evasion at his first trial in 2005. | The former head of oil giant Yukos was convicted of fraud and tax evasion at his first trial in 2005. |
Khodorkovsky's business partner, Platon Lebedev, has also had his sentence cut by two years. | Khodorkovsky's business partner, Platon Lebedev, has also had his sentence cut by two years. |
At their second trial in 2010, they were both sentenced to 13 years, to run from the date of their arrest in 2003. | At their second trial in 2010, they were both sentenced to 13 years, to run from the date of their arrest in 2003. |
In one of his final acts before leaving office as Russian president this year, Dmitry Medvedev ordered a review of the sentences imposed on Khodorkovsky, Lebedev and 30 others. | In one of his final acts before leaving office as Russian president this year, Dmitry Medvedev ordered a review of the sentences imposed on Khodorkovsky, Lebedev and 30 others. |
'Lynching' | |
Khodorkovsky's convictions have been widely seen abroad as political revenge for him defying the Kremlin by backing Russia's opposition politicians against Vladimir Putin, who was re-elected as president in March after a gap of four years. | Khodorkovsky's convictions have been widely seen abroad as political revenge for him defying the Kremlin by backing Russia's opposition politicians against Vladimir Putin, who was re-elected as president in March after a gap of four years. |
Mr Putin himself denied on Thursday that the case against Khodorkovsky had been driven by politics or personal revenge. | |
"There has been no personal prosecution," he said during his annual news conference. | |
"I remember very well how this case developed. Everyone tries to present it as a political case but what? Was Mikhail Borisovich [Khodorkovsky] involved in politics? Was he a member of parliament?" | |
The prisoner's lawyer, Vadim Klyuvgant, told Reuters news agency: "Those two years [off the sentence] were a little human relief. | |
"It's one-seventh of a 14-year [sentence]... The rest is a continuation of lawlessness and lynching, covered by court procedures." | |
The Moscow city court said its decision to reduce the prison sentences from 13 to 11 years was based on a change to Russian laws on economic crimes. |
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