Khodorkovsky's business partner Platon Lebedev released from prison, heading to Moscow
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}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.