The former Yukos owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is identified by Russian authorities as a foreign agent, has been placed on a new wanted list in connection with a fresh criminal case. Details appeared in the file maintained by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The case notes indicate that he has been re-announced as wanted for this latest charge. Previously, Khodorkovsky was sought in connection with the murder of Vladimir Petukhov, the mayor of Nefteyugansk, with the case filed in 2015.
In December, the Moscow Meshchansky Court issued a fine against Khodorkovsky for failing to disclose his status as a foreign agent in his social media posts. He was ordered to pay fifty thousand rubles.
Historically, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once at the helm of Yukos, was arrested in October 2003. In 2005 he received a prison sentence on charges related to fraud and tax evasion. A new set of conditions led to another prison term in 2010, and his confinement was anticipated to conclude in August 2014.
On December 20, 2013, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree granting Khodorkovsky a pardon. Dmitry Peskov, then Putin’s press secretary, stated that the decision was made based on humanitarian considerations.
There were also moves within the State Duma to restrict loans to foreign agencies, reflecting ongoing debates about the role of foreign entities in the Russian economy and governance landscape.