Photo report from the Ukrainian capital.

Former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky visited protesters today on Kyiv’s Maidan (Independence Square), the center of three months of Ukrainian anti-government demonstrations and unrest which saw fierce battles between pro-governement riot police forces and protesters, leaving over 100 dead, and resulting in a change to an interim government, with the former President of Ukraine abnegating responsibilities and fleeing the country to Russia.

Khodorkovsky was once Russia’s richest man and a fierce critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin before his jailing for white-collar crimes, a move condemned as politically motivated by a number of western governments and rights groups. His legal battles began after he started funding the Russian opposition. He pleaded not guilty in his 2 trials. Khodorkovsky was pardoned by President Vladimir Putin on December 20, 2013 after spending more than 10 years in prison for fraud and tax evasion. Khodorkovsky said he came so…