20 Dec 2013 12:34

Lukin: Khodorkovsky's release to make Russian society more humane

MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) - Russian Human Rights Ombudsman Vladimir Lukin expects the release of former Yukos CEO Mikhail Khodorkovsky from prison to have a positive effect on Russian society.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree pardoning Khodorkovsky.

"This [decision] will have a very good invigorating and humanizing effect on our society. Our society is ill with fear, hate, excessive suspicion of each other and so on and so forth," Lukin told Interfax on Friday.

"Such measures as this one are a remedy. We shall see how much efficient it is. But there is no doubt this is a remedy," the ombudsman said.

"The decree is signed and it will enforced shortly; there is no doubt about that," Lukin said.