MOSCOW, December 22, 13:27 /ITAR-TASS/. Former CEO of the oil corporation YUKOS, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was released from jail in Russia Friday after serving a term of more than ten years, has said in an interview with the Russian-language version of The New Times magazine that is not going to engage in politics or to claim a return of the assets he once had in YUKOS.

He also said he would return to Russia if he got the confidence that he would be able to leave its territory for trips abroad.

Khodorkovsky confirmed that the authorities did not put forward recognition of guilt as a precondition for his release from jail.

“I wrote in my paper /a petition for pardon that he sent to President Vladimir Putin - Itar-Tass/ a few things that I had mentioned on a number of occasions previously, namely, the absence of any plans on my part to engage in political activity or to claim back the assets once owned YUKOS,” he said.

Khodorkovsky flew to Berlin from St Petersburg’s Pulkovo airport on a private jet Friday, just hours after his release from jail in the northwestern region of Karelia.

Later on Sunday, he is expected to address a news conference in Berlin where he will reveal his plans for the future.