Putin pardons Pope

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree pardoning American businessman Edmond Pope, the presidential press-service reported on Thursday. The decree says that “guided by the principles of humanity, considering the health condition of the accused and his personal application, and also proceeding from the high standard of the relationships between RF and USA, I decree to pardon Pope Edmond Dean, born 1946, USA citizen, convicted on December 6th, 2000, by the Moscow City Court, freeing him from serving his sentence,” Interfax reports. Mr. Pope had earlier been sentenced to 20 years in prison for espionage.