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Russian President to Free American Imprisoned as Spy
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said today that he would accept the recommendation of his presidential pardon commission to set free Edmond Pope, the former naval intelligence officer sentenced to 20 years for alleged espionage this week.
His release is expected as early as Thursday.
In his first public comments since a Moscow judge imposed the maximum sentence on Mr. Pope, an American, on Wednesday, the Russian leader said the recommendation for clemency was made by "respected people" and "I cannot but heed their opinion."
A 16-member clemency board made up of academics, writers and other well-known intellectuals voted unanimously on Friday to urge Mr. Putin to free Mr. Pope on humanitarian grounds.
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