In an exclusive interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, the former political prisoner Mikhail Khodorkovsky speaks about his time in prison, his future plans, and enormous debt of gratitude to his family.

Khodorkovsky tells Amanpour that there were no conditions for his release.

“Mr. Putin, on a number of times, publicly said that he was ready to consider the question of my pardoning — but I had to say I was guilty for that,” Khodorkovsky said during the interview in Berlin. “That was an unacceptable condition for me.”

Officials say he was released on humanitarian grounds because his mother is ill.

When asked whether he forgives Putin, the former political rival replied, “I would put it differently, perhaps. I don’t think that revenge would be any rational behavior. And something that is rational behavior I can always deal with.”

Watch excerpts of the interview with here. An extended version is due to be released at 2PM EST today.