German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday welcomed the release from a Russian prison of Kremlin critic and ex-oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has said he does not intend to return to Russia until a USD 550 M lawsuit against him and Platon Lebedev is settled.

Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, freed on Friday after 10 years in prison, said he would not return to Russia till outstanding legal cases against him were closed. Addressing his first press conference in Berlin on Sunday, Mr. Khodorkovsky made it clear he had been effectively deported from Russia …

Turkey’s main opposition leader has raised the pressure on the government over the massive graft probe in which ministers’ sons have been arrested, claiming that the government has lost its legitimacy since the prime minister is protecting the figures who are involved in corruption.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan threw down the gauntlet to his rivals, including “spies” and “traitors” Dec. 22, warning them against using allegations of high-level corruption to undermine his rule or he would “break their hands.” 

The police in Turkey’s Istanbul fired rubber bullets, tear gas andwater cannon to disperse more than 10,000 anti-government protesters on Sunday. An eyewitness said five people were injured and one had a heart attack during thedemonstration supported by more than 200 political parties, associations and platforms inthe country.

Turkey and Moldova have agreed to speed up ties in order to create a strategic partnership and a free trade agreement, TurkishPresident Abdullah Gül said yesterday, after he met with Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti.

On Dec. 18 the Azerbaijani Defense Minister, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov received the head of the General Plan and Principles Department of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Staff, Lieutenant General Alpaslan Erdogan.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic said in Belgrade on Wednesday that Serbia will not join NATO but it will be a reliable and responsible partner.

Pro-EU protests in Ukraine should not give up must stay in the streets until achieving victory, said opposition party Udar leader and former world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko.