Khodorkovsky suggests Pichugin testify
MOSCOW. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Former Yukos chief Mikhail Khodorkovsky has suggested that his former colleague Alexei Pichugin, who is serving a life sentence, give evidence in exchange for his freedom.
"The hostage, A. Pichugin, has not colluded to this day. But there is a chance for him to exchange freedom for participation in a show. Alexei, do it," Khodorkovsky wrote on Twitter on Friday.
A former security chief at Yukos, Pichugin was sentenced for life for having organized the murder of Nefteyugansk mayor Vladimir Petukhov in the summer of 1998. Petukhov was shot dead on his way to work. At the time, Yukos was a major employer in the town, and the mayor had allegedly been at odds with the company over the latter's failure to pay taxes to the local revenue service. The mayor demanded a criminal inquiry into the company.
Earlier on Friday, Russian investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Interfax that Khodorkovsky is accused of organizing the killing of the Nefteyugansk mayor as well as another person and four attempted murders.