Mikhail Khodorkovsky, former CEO of Yukos Oil, has been released from prison today, after President Putin granted him a pardon on humanitarian grounds.

Commenting today, the Minister for Europe David Lidington said:

I welcome Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s release from prison. This is good news for Mr Khodorkovsky and his family.

Since his imprisonment in 2003, the UK Government has consistently raised concerns about the flaws in the Russian judicial process highlighted by Mr Khodorkovsky’s case. I discussed these concerns with Mr Khodorkovsky’s son when I met him in October.

This government has called on the Russian authorities to strengthen the rule of law, tackle corruption and promote independence of the judiciary, and will continue to do so.

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