Putin releases Russia’s most famous prisoner

Russia’s most famous prisoner and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky walked out of jail after more than 10 years behind bars, immediately flying to Germany following his surprise pardon by President Vladimir Putin.

The former oil tycoon was escorted out of his cell in a low-key operation

Several hours later, Khodorkovsky flew to Germany, with the Rapsi news agency saying he was on his way to Berlin. “After his release he flew to Germany where his mother is undergoing treatment,” the prison service said in a statement, adding that he had requested permission to travel abroad.