Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the jailed oil tycoon, is to be pardoned, according to reports.
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, said Khodorkovsky, who still has eight months left to serve of a 10-year jail sentence, would be pardoned soon.
Mr Putin made the announcement after his marathon press conference.
He said that Khodorkovsky has 'spent more than 10 years in prison. It's a serious term'.
He then added that he will be granted a pardon 'in the nearest time'.
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual press conference to Russia
The move appeared to be part of Mr Putin's effort to assuage international criticism of his rule ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi that start in February.
On Wednesday Russia's parliament unanimously passed an amnesty bill that could free the 30 crew members of the Greenpeace ship the Arctic Sunrise and the two women from the punk protest band Pussy Riot.
A lawyer for Khodorkovsky said that the tycoon had not asked Mr Putin for a pardon. Khodorkovsky was jailed on charges including theft and fraud but the president's opponents regard him as a political prisoner.
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, December 19, 2013 - Rating: 4.5
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