Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky (??????? ?????????? ????????????? born June 26, 1963) is a Russian businessman. As of 2004, Khodorkovsky was the wealthiest man in Russia, and was the 16th wealthiest man in the world, although much of his wealth evaporated due to the collapse in the value of his holding in the Russian petroleum company YUKOS. Until he was jailed, he was considered one of most powerful of the Russian business oligarchs.

Related Topics:
June 26 - 1963 - As of 2004 - Russia - 16th wealthiest man in the world - Petroleum - YUKOS - Business oligarch

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On October 25, 2003, Khodorkovsky was arrested at gunpoint on a Siberian airport runway by the Russian prosecutor general's office on charges of tax evasion. Shortly thereafter, on October 31, the government under Vladimir Putin further took the unprecedented step of freezing shares of Yukos due to tax charges. The Russian Government took further actions against Yukos, leading to a collapse in the share price. It purported to sell a major asset of Yukos in December 2004. Khodorkovsky's supporters see Putin's actions against him as retaliation for Khodorkovsky's support of political groups that oppose the government's policies, while opponents believe that he must answer for wrongdoing related to the privatization of state assets during the 1990s.

Related Topics:
October 25 - 2003 - Siberia - Airport - Tax evasion - October 31 - Vladimir Putin - December - 2004 - Privatization - 1990s

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On May 31, 2005, Khodorkovsky was sentenced to nine years in prison. The decision is not yet final, since his lawyers are going to appeal to a higher court. A wide variety of international journalists, politicians, and businessmen--both in Russia and internationally--consider this process to be political, and dispute the judgement process itself.

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May 31 - 2005 - Journalists - Politicians - Businessmen

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