Khodorkovsky's business partner Platon Lebedev released from prison, heading to Moscow

MOSCOW – A business partner of former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been released from prison after spending more than 10 years behind bars.

The release of Platon Lebedev comes a month after Khodorkovsky was unexpectedly freed after being pardoned by President Vladimir Putin. A court ruled Thursday to reduce Lebedev's sentence to time served.

Both men were arrested in 2003 in a tax evasion case seen as revenge for Khodorkovsky challenging Putin's power in the early years of his presidency. They had been scheduled for release later this year.

The federal penitentiary service said Lebedev was freed late Friday from a prison in the northwestern Arkhangelsk region.

In a post on Khodorkovsky's website, Lebedev's lawyer said Lebedev was in a car on his way to Moscow.