Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Elena Ternovaja · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Name	Mikhail Khodorkovsky
Birth date	June 26, 1963
Birth place	Moscow, Soviet Union
Nationality	Russian
Occupation	Businessman, philanthropist

Mikhail Khodorkovsky is a prominent Russian businessman and philanthropist, known for his involvement in the Yukos oil company and his subsequent arrest and imprisonment by the Russian government. He was a key figure in the Russian oligarchs group, which included Boris Berezovsky, Roman Abramovich, and Vladimir Potanin. Khodorkovsky's life has been closely tied to major events in Russia, including the Russian financial crisis of 1998 and the Vladimir Putin presidency. His story has also been linked to international organizations, such as the European Court of Human Rights and the United States Department of State.

● Early Life and Education

Mikhail Khodorkovsky was born in Moscow to a family of Soviet engineers, Boris Khodorkovsky and Marina Khodorkovsky. He grew up in a Soviet environment, attending Moscow State University and graduating with a degree in chemical engineering from the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia. During his university years, Khodorkovsky was involved in the Komsomol, the Communist Youth League, and later became a member of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. His early life was also influenced by the Perestroika policies of Mikhail Gorbachev and the subsequent Dissolution of the Soviet Union.

● Business Career

Khodorkovsky's business career began in the late 1980s, when he founded the Menatep bank, which later became a key player in the Russian banking sector. He was also involved in the Russian privatization process, acquiring shares in several Soviet enterprises, including the Yukos oil company. Under his leadership, Yukos became one of the largest and most successful Russian oil companies, with partnerships with ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips. Khodorkovsky's business dealings also involved interactions with other prominent Russian oligarchs, such as Mikhail Fridman and Pyotr Aven.

● Arrest and Imprisonment

In 2003, Khodorkovsky was arrested by the Russian authorities on charges of tax evasion and fraud, in a case that was widely seen as politically motivated. The arrest was linked to his support for Russian opposition parties, including the Union of Right Forces and the Yabloko party. Khodorkovsky's imprisonment was also connected to his conflicts with Vladimir Putin and the Russian government, which had been seeking to consolidate control over the Russian energy sector. During his imprisonment, Khodorkovsky's case was taken up by international organizations, such as the Amnesty International and the European Union.

● Exile and Activism

After his release from prison in 2013, Khodorkovsky went into exile in Switzerland and later moved to London, where he became involved in various Russian opposition activities. He has been a vocal critic of the Russian government and its human rights record, working with organizations such as the Human Rights Watch and the International Federation for Human Rights. Khodorkovsky has also been involved in the Open Russia movement, which aims to promote democracy and human rights in Russia. His activism has been supported by prominent figures, including Garry Kasparov and Boris Nemtsov.

● Personal Life

Khodorkovsky is married to Inna Khodorkovsky and has four children. His personal life has been affected by his imprisonment and exile, with his family facing various challenges and restrictions. Despite these difficulties, Khodorkovsky has continued to be involved in philanthropic activities, supporting organizations such as the Russian Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress. His story has also been the subject of several documentary films, including The Case of Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Khodorkovsky. Throughout his life, Khodorkovsky has been connected to major events and figures in Russia and beyond, including the Russian Orthodox Church, the Kremlin, and the White House.