The question is what they could and were willing to do. Political, geopolitical, and self-interests constraints meant that the answer has been "nothing or little". But it's easier to claim that he was "misread".
> "It seemed to me that, ideologically, he was one of our people. A man of our generation, who gets it, who wants to push Russia in the same direction that we want for it. That is towards openness, towards democracy.
Boy was I mistaken.
He's a very talented KGB guy. Very talented. You like leftists? Putin will behave around you in a way that you will be convinced that he's a leftist. You like nationalists? Putin is going to act around you in a way that you'll think that he's a bit of a nationalist. You like conservatives? Talk to him and you will get an impression that he's a conservative.
That's a talent."
Do you think the guys in Langley haven't known exactly what he is about all along?
Of course Khodorkovsky knew as well but now it's best for him to say he was played and is a victim.