Surprise Pardon: Putin Frees His Rival Khodorkovsky Listen Download Embed Share Share this on Facebook (Opens in a new window) Share this on Twitter (Opens in a new window) Share this via Email The imprisoned former head of Yukos oil company, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, stands in the defendant's box during his trial in the court in Moscow, 31 August 2004. ( TATYANA MAKEYEVA/AFP / Getty ) Produced by PRI and WNYC