Imprisoned businessmen Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev may be released as early as this year under an amnesty for entrepreneurs that President Vladimir Putin will discuss at a meeting with business leaders next week.
Former Yukos owners Khodorkovsky and Lebedev are among the names included in a draft of an amnesty that would free up to 110,000 jailed entrepreneurs, Dozhd television reported, citing government sources.
The amnesty, which has been endorsed by presidential business ombudsman Boris Titov and State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin as a means to improve the business climate, will be discussed at a meeting on May 23, the eve of the Entrepreneur Day professional holiday.
It was unclear whether Putin would back the amnesty or the inclusion of Khodorkovsky, whose imprisonment is widely seen as Kremlin punishment for his political and business ambitions.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov would only confirm that Putin was aware of the initiative.
"The president knows that it is being discussed," Peskov said, noting that various options for the pardon are on the table, according to Interfax.
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev are currently serving 11-year sentences, with Lebedev's term expiring in August 2014 and Khodorkovsky's in October of the same year.
Related articles:
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.