Khodorkovsky to launch Russian language news site in Latvia

  • 2014-07-21
  • From wire reports, RIGA

Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was famously pardoned by Russian president Vladimir Putin and released from prison last year, will launch a new online news site based in Latvia.

Gazeta.ru reports that, although based in Latvia, the website will be meant for the audiences in Russia. The new medium will start operating in September.

It's believed Galina Timchenko, who was fired from the chief editor's position at Russian news site Lenta.ru in March, will be the editor in chief. Timchenko denied the reports.

It's reportted that the staff will partially consist of former employees of lenta.ru. Khodorkovsky's representatives indicated that he will not comment on this information until autumn.

Khodorkovsky spent ten years in jail  for tax evasion and theft for funding opposition parties. He was later granted pardon by Russian president Vladimir Putin due to his mother's illness.