Support The Moscow Times!

Former Russian Oligarch Khodorkovsky Charged With 2 Murders

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Exiled former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been charged with masterminding two murders in the 1990s, the Interfax news agency reported Friday.

The former Yukos CEO stands accused of organizing the 1998 murder of the mayor of oil town Nefteyugansk, Vladimir Petukhov, and the attempted murder of his bodyguard, Vyacheslav Kokoshkin, the report said, citing Investigative Committee spokesperson Vladimir Markin.

Khodorkovsky has also been charged with plotting an attack on businessman Yevgeny Rybin, in which Rybin's bodyguard was killed and two other people were injured.

Khodorkovsky, who formally resides in Switzerland, was earlier summoned for questioning on the case.

Since he failed to show up for questioning, a warrant for Khodorkovsky's arrest would be put out soon, the report said.

Spokeswoman for Khodorkovsky, Kulle Pispanen, said Khodorkovsky considered the accusations to be unfounded and would not change his plans over the warrant.

“He is a free person and is not going to limit himself on any front,” she told Interfax.

Khodorkovsky spent more than a decade behind bars after being stripped of his Yukos assets in what was widely seen as politically motivated case. He was pardoned by Russia's President Vladimir Putin in December 2013.

Since his release, Khodorkovsky has been a vocal critic of the Kremlin, saying on Wednesday that a “revolution” in Russia was inevitable and could happen as soon as 2018.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more