An article from the St. Petersburg Times reports that the number of prisoners granted pardons and paroles has sharply dropped off under Vladimir Putin, yet fails to identify exactly which experts have voiced doubts about Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s lawful eligibility and entitlement to parole. Simply put, he should be let out under the rights and processes afforded to him under Russian law.

Under Yeltsin between 700 and 800 prisoners were granted pardons each year, but in the Putin-Medvedev era the process has come to a standstill. The regional commissions produce decisions but then the cases have to receive the blessing of a regional governor and then move on to — and get stuck in — Moscow. Results have been discouraging. Forty-two people were pardoned in 2005, and only 9 in 2006.