Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky arrived in Berlin on Friday after being released from prison. He flew out of Russia just hours after President Vladimir Putin signed a pardon for him -- ending more than 10 years of detention for tax evasion and embezzlement.
The former Yukos oil company head was greeted by former German Foreign Minister Hans-Deitrich Genscher at Berlin's Schoenefeld airport.
In a statement following his release Friday, Khodorkovsky said he asked the Russian president on November 12 to pardon him in connection with "family circumstances" and that he was "glad" the response was positive.
"The issue of admission of guilt was not raised," Khodorkovsky said in the statement.
Russia's federal prison service said Friday that the former Yukos oil company head had asked permission to travel outside the country and flown to Germany, where his mother had been receiving medical treatment.
Mr. Putin said earlier Friday on his website that he was pardoning Khodorkovsky for humanitarian reasons.
Mr. Putin first announced his intention to free Khodorkovsky during a lengthy news conference Thursday covering a wide range of topics. At that time, he said Khodorkovsky had, for the first time, requested a pardon because his mother is ill.
Russia's former richest man was a strong critic of the Kremlin, and his backers considered him a political prisoner.
Mr. Putin also said two members of the Pussy Riot punk rock band will be freed on amnesty.
His announcements come ahead of Russia hosting the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in February. The lead-up to the event has put Russia's human rights record in the spotlight.
The former Yukos oil company head was greeted by former German Foreign Minister Hans-Deitrich Genscher at Berlin's Schoenefeld airport.
In a statement following his release Friday, Khodorkovsky said he asked the Russian president on November 12 to pardon him in connection with "family circumstances" and that he was "glad" the response was positive.
"The issue of admission of guilt was not raised," Khodorkovsky said in the statement.
Russia's federal prison service said Friday that the former Yukos oil company head had asked permission to travel outside the country and flown to Germany, where his mother had been receiving medical treatment.
Mr. Putin said earlier Friday on his website that he was pardoning Khodorkovsky for humanitarian reasons.
Mr. Putin first announced his intention to free Khodorkovsky during a lengthy news conference Thursday covering a wide range of topics. At that time, he said Khodorkovsky had, for the first time, requested a pardon because his mother is ill.
Russia's former richest man was a strong critic of the Kremlin, and his backers considered him a political prisoner.
Mr. Putin also said two members of the Pussy Riot punk rock band will be freed on amnesty.
His announcements come ahead of Russia hosting the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in February. The lead-up to the event has put Russia's human rights record in the spotlight.