RT NewsMikhail Khodorkovsky has issued a statement saying that he asked President Putin for a pardon for “family reasons” and is glad “there has been a positive decision.” It comes as the ex-oil tycoon arrived in Germany after being released from jail.
However, he stressed that the issue of admission of guilt was not raised. Khodorkovsky said he had sent his letter to President Vladimir Putin on November 12.
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Hours after release from jail in Russia’s Karelia region, Khodorkovsky landed in Berlin, where he was personally welcomed by former German foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher. It is understood that Genscher has been involved in securing Khodorkovsky’s passage to Germany.
Genscher has confirmed that he personally picked up the former tycoon at the airport, German local media reported.
Khodorkovsky has given special thanks to Genscher “for his personal participation in my fate,” as well as all his supporters.
“I would like to thank everyone who has been following the Yukos case all these years for the support you provided to me, my family and all those who were unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted. I am very much looking forward to the minute when I will be able to hug my close ones and personally shake hands with all my friends and associates,” says the statement which has been published on Khodorkovsky’s press-secretary’s Facebook page, as well as the Facebook page of Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center.
But for now, the main priority for Khodorkovsky is his family, he said.
“First of all I am going to repay my debt to my parents, my wife and my children, and I am very much looking forward to meeting them.”
Khodorkovsky’s son Pavel is heading to Germany from the US, where he currently lives, Russian news agencies reported, citing “a source familiar with his plans”.
Khodorkovsky’s father, Boris, has told to AP he and his wife Maria will fly to Germany on Saturday.
http://rt.com/news/khodorkovsky-statement-release-pardon-569/