Russian secret service initiates criminal proceedings against Khodorkovsky

On Tuesday, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced that it had launched new criminal proceedings against opposition politician and former businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The authorities accuse him of founding a terrorist organization and preparing a violent takeover.

Khodorkovsky was once one of Russia's most influential businessmen and headed the oil company Yukos. He was arrested in 2003 and convicted two years later of fraud and tax evasion. He served ten years in prison before being released in 2013 on the basis of a presidential pardon. Shortly after his release, he left Russia and has been living abroad ever since.

Since leaving the country, Khodorkovsky has supported various initiatives and groups that openly oppose President Vladimir Putin's government. The Russian authorities have not yet released any details about the evidence that led to the new charges.

(reuters, sie)