Putin Critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky: Putin Realizes 'There Can Be No Military Solution' | DW Interview

Mar 31, 2022 • Over a month after Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has come to understand that "there can be no military solution here," exiled Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky told DW. Khodorkovsky, a prominent critic of the Russian leader, previously spent a decade in prison in Russia on charges widely regarded as revenge for challenging Putin's rule. Russian troops began their invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Putin announced that the operation aimed at "demilitarizing" and "de-nazifying" the former Soviet state and protecting Russian speakers in the country. But with Russia failing to quickly occupy the country due to strong Ukrainian resistance and its troops getting bogged down, Moscow recently announced a change in its war aims, saying that it will focus on the "liberation" of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. "Putin is stuck when it comes to the military operation," Khodorkovsky said, adding, "Putin has two options now: Either he escalates things, which could mean either introducing mobilization or using tactical nuclear weapons, or he can stabilize the situation and begin peace talks in earnest." In the interview with DW, Khodorkovsky also stressed the importance of a unified Western position. "The West's position needs to be clear, meaning comprehensive support for Ukraine if the war continues and in case Putin uses tactical nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction," he underlined. "That sort of clear position from the West will, let's say, help Putin make the right decision."

How Dangerous Is Putin? Hear Ex-Russian Oligarch's Answer

Mar 24, 2022 • Former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was once the richest man in Russia before spending 10 years in prison for going against Vladimir Putin, speaks with CNN's Erin Burnett about the Russian president's mindset and the state of the country's military a month into the war in Ukraine.

Establish a no-fly zone immediately! Grow a pair, for God’s sake! We are on the brink of World War III. Putin must be stopped – now! He will never be satisfied merely with the establishment of Russia’s control of the Ukraine. After the Ukraine, he will move on to other ex-satellite states of the one-time Soviet empire, like Poland and/or the Baltic states. The less you do now, the greater the danger for the future. That should be clear to us all by now. Unfortunately, it appears not to be. We cannot avoid conflict with Russia whilst Putin is at the helm, whichever way we slice it. We have been here before–in the 1930s; so we don’t need, or want, to travel the same well-trodden path to disaster we travelled before. Pluck up the courage and act – NOW! The West’s current strategy is not only weak, but it is immoral, too! – © Mark

‘Enemy of Humankind’: Ex-Russian Oligarch Speaks Out about Putin

Mar 4, 2022 • CNN's Nina dos Santos speaks with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former Russian oil tycoon and Kremlin critic who says Russian President Vladimir Putin is "the enemy of humankind."

Mikhail Khodorkovsky to Be Pardoned

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky to be pardoned, according to announcement following Vladimir Putin's marathon press conference

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the jailed oil tycoon, is to be pardoned by Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, a surprise decision that will let a major rival who was formerly Russia's richest man out of prison after more than a decade.

The move, along with an amnesty for the two jailed members of the Pussy Riot punk band and the 30-member crew of a Greenpeace ship, appears designed to assuage international criticism of Russia's rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi, Putin's pet project.

Mr Putin waited until just after his tightly choreographed annual news conference to make the announcement, dropping the biggest news of the day after journalists had already peppered him with questions, including one about Khodorkovsky's fate, in a four-hour marathon.

He said Khodorkovsky, who still has eight months left to serve of a 10-year jail sentence, would be pardoned soon. » | Roland Oliphant, Moscow and Chris Irvine | Thursday, December 19, 2013