Here is the latest from Reuters on the press conference following German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to Moscow:
Putin: Medvedev to decide on oil tycoon's pardonMOSCOW, March 8 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that it would be up to his successor Dmitry Medvedev to decide whether to pardon convicted criminals, including jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
A Kremlin source told Reuters the existing procedure for a presidential pardon requires anyone who wants to be pardoned to first admit their guilt and file a request.Khodorkovsky says he is innocent.
Putin was asked at a joint press conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel whether Khodorkovsky would be pardoned.
"If we suppose that the procedure required by law is observed, then the question of pardoning is in the competence of the head of state, the president of the Russian Federation," Putin said.
Khodorkovsky was arrested in 2003 in what was widely regarded as a Kremlin campaign to punish the tycoon for his political ambitions. The arrest was widely criticised in the West and a number of politicians have called for his release.
"We would really welcome such a move (pardoning Khodorkovsky)," Merkel told the news conference.
Khodorkovsky is currently serving an eight-year term in a Siberian jail and may face trial on a new set of charges this year. (Reporting by Denis Dyomkin; Writing by Gleb Bryanski; Editing by Jon Boyle)
The key will be to admit to being guilty of something insignificant so that both sides can move one without sacrificing their images.
I would say that this statement by Putin should be seen as a huge opportunity.
Seize that opportunity!!
This is the single stupidest comment I've ever seen posted in the blogosphere, and that's saying something.
The Kremlin couldn't care less what Mr. K admits to, what it wants is a guarantee that he won't oppose them politically, that he will consent to the neo-Sovietization of Russia like the other good little oligarchs who profit from the Kremlin at the public expense.
The only "opportunity" here is to surrender to a malignant regime like a pathetic coward and a traitor to Russia. It's not surprising that a venal and insidious collaborator like Mr. Post would see that as a good thing.
One might also add that one doubts Mr. K would be satisfied with simply being released from prison even if he did agree to support Putin. Probably, at least, he'd also like back the property the Kremlin has stolen from him. Note well that Mr. Post makes no such proposal.