Mikhail Khodorkovsky wished the speedy release of ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, called not to boycott the Sochi Olympics and thanked the Russian authorities for their “loyal attitude towards his family” while he was in prison. He also stated that he does not plan to engage in politics and fight for the return of YUKOS assets. The businessman spoke about this at a press conference at the Berlin Wall Museum, which took place on Sunday and lasted just over half an hour. The event was accompanied by great excitement: more than 80 media outlets from dozens of countries were accredited there, including Russia, Germany, Ukraine, France, Austria, Great Britain, and the USA. Journalists surrounded the former head of YUKOS and his parents. The organizers continually asked media representatives to behave more calmly and not press on the main characters.

Thanking all those present, Khodorkovsky apologized for the fact that he “won’t be able to go into much detail,” since he still has “comrades in misfortune” in prison, questions about whom the security forces have not yet resolved.

When asked what advice he could give to Western countries regarding dialogue with Putin, Khodorkovsky found it difficult to answer, but said that Western politicians should remember that he is not the last political prisoner who was in Russia.

Speaking about the case of Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Khodorkovsky expressed hope that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych would “take an example” from his Russian counterpart.

Answering the question about whether he plans to return to business, the businessman said that he has no such plans. “I believe that in the course of my business career I have achieved everything I wanted to achieve... I am not interested in repeating this success,” Khodorkovsky said. According to him, his financial situation allows him not to work for money, and therefore he would like to devote all the time that he has left for an active business life to those people who are worse off than him.

The ex-head of YUKOS also drew attention to statements by President Vladimir Putin that he sees no prospects in the so-called “third Khodorkovsky case,” which is allegedly related to the examination of the liberalization of criminal legislation, allegedly financed by YUKOS. Khodorkovsky said that after the president’s words he hoped that the third case would “become a thing of the past,” but it turned out that not all of the security forces shared this position.

On Sunday, at a closed press conference for a narrow circle, Khodorkovsky also announced that he was not going to finance the Russian opposition, as YUKOS did, and was not planning any investment projects, including in the West. At the same time, the businessman admitted that he had “There is no financial opportunity and noted that this would be dangerous primarily for the opposition.

Khodorkovsky will not be involved in business or politics