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Putin signs decree to pardon Khodorkovsky

The decree comes into force from the date of its signing

© ITAR-TASS/Yuri Mashkov

MOSCOW, December 20. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to pardon former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky, freeing him from penalty, according to the press service of the Kremlin.

“Guided by the principles of humanity, I resolve to pardon convict Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky, born in 1963, a native of Moscow, freeing him from further penalty of imprisonment.”

The decree comes into force from the date of its signing.

His lawyer said that Mikhail Khodorkovsky may be released from prison before the end of Friday, December 20.

Entire family of former CEO of the oil corporation YUKOS, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, is filled with joy over his release from prison where he has spent more than ten years but family members are totally unaware of how the release took place and where he is now, Mikhail’s father Boris Khodorkovsky said.

“We’re really filled with joy and are looking forward to seeing our son,” he said adding he still had no idea about how Mikhail had written a petition for pardon.

“We’ve read Mikhail has been released from the penal colony and has left its territory,” Boris Khodorkovsky said. “We trust the information and feel joyful.”

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