Putin: Khodorkovsky is not a political prisoner
ST. PETERSBURG. June 4 (Interfax) - Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of the defunct oil company Yukos, cannot be considered a political prisoner, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"Concerning the so-called political prisoners. Wherever I go I hear the same question asked about the future of Mr. Khodorkovsky. As you know, the European Court of Human Rights said there are no political motives to be found in Mr. Khodorkovsky's criminal case and verdict, " Putin told reporters on Monday after a Russia-European Union summit.
"Concerning other instances of this kind, we need to detail the list of persons involved," Putin said, while commenting on a leaflet circulated at the hotel where reporters covering the summit are staying. Reporters claimed the leaflet dealt with political prisoners in Russia. It had the phrase: "Putin must be sent to jail," the reporter who asked the question, claimed.
"Well, doing the time in jail will be in good company," he said.
