Khodorkovsky Granted Presidential Pardon

After spending a decade in jail for embezzlement, tax evasion and theft, former Russian oil magnate and prominent political critic, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, was granted pardon on Thursday by Russian President Putin on the basis of "the principles of humanity".

It was revealed during his annual press conference on Thursday, that the former head of oil giant Yukos had asked the President for clemency because his mother was ill.

In a decree signed by Mr Putin and published
by the Kremlin, he said "guided by humanitarian principles , I decree that Mikhail Borisovich
Khodorkovsky. .. should be pardoned and freed from any further punishment in the
form of imprisonment . This decree comes into force from the day of its signing."

The pardon came as a surprise to the public after Russian MPs pushed for a wide-ranging amnesty for at
least 20,000 prisoners including minors, disabled
people, veterans, pregnant women and mothers.

Although, analysts say that the pardon may actually be a ploy to push aside international criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of February's Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Kommersant newspaper said on Friday Khodorkovsky had made the decision to seek a pardon following the threat of a
third trial against him.

Although, Khodorkovsky was imprisoned in 2010 after being convicted of stealing oil and laundering money, he has been in prison since 2003 when he was arrested on charges of tax evasion. He was due to be released next August.

Double Car Bombings Kills Four in Dagestan

There has been a report of a double car bomb explosion in Makhachkala, capital of Russian’s Dagestan Republic, killing at least four and injuring over forty people just outside the headquarters of the court bailiff’s service.

According to Interfax news agency reports, the first car bomb went off on Monday in front of the Justice ministry, but no fatalities were reported. Just as the police arrived at the scene, a second car bomb detonated, Interfax reported, citing local investigative committee.

Although, there were conflicting reports about the number of casualties with initial reports suggesting 8 deaths, law enforcement officials have put the death toll at three people, with dozens injured in the second attack.

According to the local Interior Ministry, the majority of injured were police officers who arrived at the scene after the first blast, adding that there were about 15 of them in the hospital.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but investigators are already working on tracking down suspects using registration plates of one of the vehicles involved.

An ethnically mixed region comprising mostly of Muslims, Dagestan has been a province with the highest rate of violence in the Northern Caucasus. The violence, which was due to insurgency, has led to the deaths of at least 400 people according to a website monitoring events occurring in the region.

Fire at Psychiatric Hospital in Russia kills 38

38 people have been killed in a blaze that tore through a wing of a psychiatric hospital near Moscow, according to Russian officials on Friday. The victims include 36 patients and two members of staff.

Luckily, 3 people escaped the fire unhurt as there were originally 41 people in the building early Friday, according to a report from Russian Emergencies Ministries.

According to investigators, when the alarm went off, the off-duty nurse was only able to evacuate two patients due to the heavy smoke. most of the victims were believed to be asleep at that time.

It took more than an hour for firefighters to arrive at the scene due to a river crossing that was closed as a result of flooding.

According to a statement released by the Russia's Investigative Committee, there is a preliminary information indicating that the source of the fire was a sofa utilised in the common room.

Russiaan President Vladimir Putin has called for an investigation into the blaze. he has urged the acting governor in the area, law enforcement agencies, the health ministry, and other local officials to ensure survivors are properly assistted.

11 Civilians Taken Hostage by Taliban after Helicopter’s Forced Landing in Afghanistan

11 civilians onboard a Turkish transport helicopter were taken hostage by Taliban insurgents after they were forced to make an emergency landing in the Taliban-controlled area, southeast of Kabul in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday.

The civilians included eight Turkish engineers, one Afghan man and the two pilots of the Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter (one Russian pilot and another pilot of unconfirmed nationality), according to reports from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

The civilian aircraft were forced to land amidst strong winds and heavy rain in the village of Dahra Mangal, in the Azra District of Logan Province, southeast of Kabul, according to District Governor Hamidullah Hamid. The helicopter landed in the densely forest region, about 12 miles from the Pakistani border.

The Taliban insurgents then showed up and took everyone onboard the helicopter hostage.

Some Afghan officials are worried that the hostages might be taken to Pakistan, where many international terrorist groups are based. In addition, the helicopter landed in an area just 20 miles from the Pakistani border.

The Taliban has taken responsibility for the abduction, as they have sent out a statement to the news media on Monday afternoon, including a headline and a dateline. The headline read: ‘’US-NATO Chopper Falls Into Hands of Mujahedeen, All Passengers Detined’’

The statement explained that the hostages they captured worked for the military, with no indication whether they were military contractors or troops. Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, said that the foreign forces, by dissociating themselves from the helicopter, are trying to make it seem as the detainees are civilians but denial will not benefit them as all were captured while wearing American military uniforms.

Bulent Arinc, deputy prime minister of Turkey, has stated on national television the government are working on aplan to get its citizens back. In his words, he said, ‘the foreign ministry is involved with a serious follow-up, and we hope that our citizens will be freed soon and return to their work locations in safety.’

The Russian Embassy in Kabul made no comments on the abduction, but they confirmed its citizen was among the hostages, and have kept a low profile on the matter.

It will be recalled that the Russians generally stayed away from Afghanistan after a brutal war that lasted 10 years. When Russia tried to repair its broken ties with Afghan, it was done on a low profile immediately after the fall of the Taliban, focusing on development projects alone.

 
The Turks may have a better understanding with the Taliban, as they played a vital role in civilian development, coupled with their Muslim faith. Only three weeks ago, Taliban released unharmed a Turkish engineer to his government after lengthy, low profile negotiations by the Turkish government. He was abducted two years ago after been charged for carrying out ‘suspicious activities’.

Six People Killed by Gunman at Russian Hunting Shop; 14-Year-Old among the Dead

Six people have been shot dead by a gunman at a hunting shop in Belgorod, southwest Russia. The assailant, who was armed with a hunting rifle, began a shooting spree in broad daylight after he robbed the shop, shot the attendant and then, opened fire to passers-by outside in the main street, local officials said.

According to regional police spokesman, Yevgeny Kamalov, the passers-by that were murdered in cold blood included a 14-year-old girl, a 16-year-old girl, three salesmen and two yet-to-be-identified passers-by. Five of them died on the spot, while the last one was confirmed dead in the hospital with fatal gunshot wounds.

Police has confirmed that their main suspect is a brown-haired man with a criminal record in his thirties, who was released from prison in 2012. After the crime was committed, he fled the scene in a BMW with another assailant, which they abandoned later.

In a statement, Belgorod city council has said that psychologists are working with relatives of those killed. Their families of the dead and injured will also receive financial compensation.

While the manhunt for the suspect is ongoing, a group of investigators from the Russian capital have been dispatched to the city to help with the investigation. Sergei Bozhenov, Belgorod Mayor, called for an emergency meeting to address the residents on the shooting. He declared two days of mourning, starting from Tuesday.

Only six months earlier, a Moscow lawyer shot dead six people in the Russian capital in a possible violent reponse to a break-up with his fiancée.