Khodorkovsky congratulating Putin on his birthday wished him ‘to separate himself from Russia’

In an interview with TV Rain (Dozhd), founder of Open Russia political initiative Khodorkovsky said he was happy to congratulate Putin on his 65th birthday. "If Vladimir Vladimirovich found the strength to separate himself from the country (from the point of view of its management), then I think our country would finally see some prospects for the future, as would Putin himself. I really wish this for him," Khodorkovsky said.

Khodorkovsky recalled that he also had congratulated the President on his birthdays in previous years, including during his imprisonment in a penal colony.

For example, in 2005 Khodorkovsky, who at that time was jailed for the "first Yukos case," congratulated Putin on his 53rd birthday. Then he wished the President "find freedom and peace," and to resign from the "ungrateful presidential post."

On October 7th, President Vladimir Putin turned 65 years old. Foreign leaders from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Mongolia, Finland, and Serbia congratulated Putin on his birthday.

Putin was also congratulated by the members of the Russian Security Council, whom he was meeting with.

  Khodorkovsky, Putin, Russia