Mikhail Khodorkovsky is a Russian businessman, long time opponent of Putin’s regime, and philanthropist whose career spans business, civil society, and pro-democracy advocacy. He founded the New Eurasian Strategies Centre (NEST Centre) in 2024 to provide expertise on Russia and to foster strategic thinking about its future, encourage open debate, and support the country’s democratic development.

Khodorkovsky rose to prominence in the 1990s as head of YUKOS, Russia’s largest oil producer. In 2001, he launched the Open Russia movement to promote civil society, education, and democratic institutions. A vocal critic of state corruption, he publicly challenged President Putin during a televised meeting in 2003. Later that year, he was arrested and imprisoned for a decade on politically motivated charges.

Since his release in 2013, Khodorkovsky has remained a strong voice in the Russian opposition. In 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he co-founded the Anti-War Committee of Russia – a coalition of Russian public figures and grassroots organizations in exile opposing the war, assisting its victims, and promoting democratic change.

His major published works include Mikhail Khodorkovsky: Articles, Dialogues, Interviews (2010); Prison and Freedom (with Natalia Gevorkyan, 2012); Prison People (2014); The New Russia, or Gardarika (2020); The Russia Conundrum (2021); and How to Kill a Dragon? A Manual for Beginner Revolutionaries (2022). 

Oscar-winning documentarian Alex Gibney covered Mikhail Khodorkovsky’s life story in his latest film Citizen K, which is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.