Jailed Russian tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky said today he had ended a hunger strike he began last month in protest at the treatment of a jailed colleague who is gravely ill with HIV/Aids.
Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, declared the hunger strike in an effort to force the authorities to give Vasily Alexanian (36), a former vice president at the now defunct Yukos oil firm, proper treatment.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky speaks to reporters from his prison cell earlier this month
Russia's prison service moved Mr Alexanian on Friday to a specialist clinic from the prison where he was being kept while he awaits trial on charges of embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion.
"I am ending my hunger strike in connection with the move of Alexanian to a civilian clinic," Mr Khodorkovsky said in a statement posted on his www.khodorkovsky.ru web site.
"I hope [Alexanian's transfer shows] there are fewer bureaucratic thugs ready to let a man die while trying to guess the wishes of their bosses than there are honest and conscientious people," Mr Khodorkovsky said.
The initial refusal of Russian judges to move Mr Alexanian - who is going blind and says he is near death - to a clinic drew condemnation from rights groups.
Prosecutors had denied mistreating Mr Alexanian.
Khodorkovsky, who is serving a prison term near the Chinese border, says he was jailed because he challenged President Vladimir Putin and refused to allow corrupt officials seize his company.
Mr Alexanian has said he is being used as a pawn to put further pressure on Khodorkovsky, who could face another trial this year on new charges of money laundering and embezzlement.