"Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will 'soon' pardon one of his sharpest critics — jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky — and said that a newly enacted amnesty law would free imprisoned Greenpeace activists and two members of the punk band Pussy Riot."

"NPR's Corey Flintoff reports from Moscow on All Things Considered that the surprising news came minutes after a four-hour news conference by Putin, when the Russian leader told reporters 'that he will soon pardon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, the former head of the Russian oil giant, Yukos oil.'"

Scott Neuman reports for NPR December 19, 2013. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Russian Amnesty To Benefit Pussy Riot, Greenpeace 30" (Reuters) [3]

"Putin Calls Russia Response To Greenpeace Arctic Protest a Lesson" (Reuters) [4]