Just to complete the picture of Putin/Khodorkovsky relationship, here’s a quote from the wikipedia article on Khodorkovsky that sums up what might make this an interesting situation to watch:
“In February 2003, at a televised meeting at the Kremlin, (seen, in part, on tonight’s PBS Putin show) Khodorkovsky argued with Putin about corruption. He implied that major government officials were accepting millions in bribes. In early 2012, prior to the Russian presidential election, the writer and activist Masha Gessen wrote that Khodorkovsky and Putin had both underestimated each other. “During his eight years in confinement, Khodorkovsky has become Russia’s most trusted public figure and Putin’s biggest political liability. As long as Putin rules Russia and Khodorkovsky continues to act like Khodorkovsky, Khodorkovsky will remain in prison—and Putin will remain terrified of him.”