Russia’s Federal Security Service announced on Tuesday that they have initiated a criminal case against former Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky, alleging his involvement in a “terrorist organization” and a conspiracy to violently seize power. Khodorkovsky, a former oil magnate and once the wealthiest individual in Russia, previously served a decade in a Siberian prison on charges of fraud that were widely believed to be politically motivated.
The Federal Security Service stated that the charges pertain to the activities of a group supported by Khodorkovsky, known as the Anti-War Committee, which opposes the conflict in Ukraine and has been outlawed in Russia. There has been no immediate response from Khodorkovsky or his associates.
Khodorkovsky gained prominence as one of the affluent businessmen who supported former President Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s, amassing significant influence in the Russian economy as a consequence. However, his standing plummeted as Yeltsin’s successor, Vladimir Putin, consolidated control over once-autonomous business figures.
Pardoned in 2013, Khodorkovsky left Russia and has since lent his support to various groups critical of Putin. Since 2022, he has emerged as a prominent figure among Russian exiles advocating for Kyiv against Moscow in the Ukraine conflict. Following the outbreak of the war, he was labeled a “foreign agent” by the Russian government.
