Mikhail Khodorkovsky is arrested in absentia

Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been arrested in absentia and placed on the international wanted list, says Russian Investigative Committee Official Representative Vladimir Markin.

The decision to arrest the ex-Yukos head in absentia relates to the murder of Nefteyugansk Mayor Vladimir Petukhov. Khodorkovsky is suspected to have been involved in the murder.

Markin did not specify which court had handled the absentia arrest application.

• On December 11, Russia's Investigative Committee indicted Mikhail Khodorkovsky in absentia for the murder of Nefteyugansk Mayor Vladimir Petukhov. The former Yukos head had previously been summoned for questioning. Law enforcement agencies then stated if Khodorkovsky did not appear for questioning, the businessman may be placed on the international wanted list and a court application then issued for his arrest in absentia.
• The Mayor of Nefteyugansk, Vladimir Petukhov, was shot and killed on June 26, 1998. An attempted assassination of Evgeny Rybin, who had business disputes with Yukos, then took place March 5, 1999. Rybin survived the attempt on his life, however, his bodyguard was killed.
• In 2007, the former internal security head for Yukos, Alexei Pichugin, was found guilty of both crimes and given a life sentence.
• In late 2013, Mikhail Khodorkovsky was released from prison. He had been in prison for about 10 years on charges of financial fraud and tax evasion. Khodorkovsky left Russia immediately upon his release. *