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Kremlin: Accusations against Khodorkovsky are criminal rather than economically-motivated

The charges against the former Yukos head this time have got nothing to do with his economic activities, he is suspected of complicity to murder, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov AP Photo/Maxim Shemetov

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

© AP Photo/Maxim Shemetov

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Russia's Mikhail Khodorkovsky put on international wanted list

MOSCOW, December 23 /TASS/. Accusations against Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of the Yukos oil company, are not politically motivated and are part of criminal prosecution, Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists when asked to comment Khdorokovsy’s words that he was posing a political and economic threat to the Russian authorities.

According to Peskov, the accusations are not the result of "Putin’s fears". "Khodorkovsky is being suspected of complicity to a crime," he said.

"The charges which our investigative bodies have brought against [the oligarch] this time have got nothing to do with his economic activities. He is suspected of complicity to murder. In short, it’s just a criminal affair," the Kremlin spokesman concluded.

Khodorkovsky predicted a regime change in Russia in the next ten years. In this connection, Putin’s press secretary remembered that presidential elections in Russia tended to have a certain cycle. "The next presidential elections will take place in three years; then in nine years and finally in 15 years. This is a cycle. But it’s not a regime, it’s presidential elections," Peskov stressed.

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Dmitry Peskov Russia's domestic policy Yukos Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Military operation in Ukraine

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Major Western investor accuses Zelensky's office of extorting millions of euros

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North Korea conducts new anti-aircraft missile test — KCNA

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Top stories from the Russian press on Friday, April 19th

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

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The Security Service of Ukraine announced earlier that in a joint operation with law enforcement agencies in Ukraine and Poland it thwarted an attempt to assassinate Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky

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Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

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FACTBOX: Collective Security Treaty Organization

The Collective Security Treaty came into force on April 20, 1994 to herald the emergence what would eventually become the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The six member-countries are Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan

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