One of Putin’s most prominent critics does not believe that anyone is trying to oust President Vladimir Putin, even though some Russians consider the president a war criminal.
Russian opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky says he is convinced that if Putin is not stopped now in Ukraine, there will be worse.
“Putin’s actions have unfortunate consequences, which he deals with in his typical way,” Khodorkovsky said in a video interview with the Swedish SVT channel’s Aktuellt program.
According to Khodorkovsky, Putin’s logic goes that he blames the United States or the “fifth column,” that is, foreign entities operating in Russia or interfering in its activities. This means that Russia must fight the Americans in Poland or the Baltic countries.
– I am quite sure that if Putin is not stopped now in Ukraine, it will be NATO countries’ turn.
However, Khodorkovsky also says in an interview that if Putin realizes that his policy of power is not succeeding and Ukraine will not bend, the next turn may be an opportunity for diplomacy.
The oligarchs will not rise up against Putin
According to Khodorkovsky, the opposition has now been silenced for a moment. Russians living outside Russia are against the war.
– In the opposition group to which I belong and which I represent, there is no support for war. In addition, Putin is considered a war criminal.
Khodorkovsky was one of the richest men in Russia until he was convicted of financial crimes. After his release from prison, Khodorkovsky has regained political asylum and some of his frozen funds from Britain.
Khodorkovsky-funded Open Russia has ceased operations in Russia. Previously, the organization was banned by law and was declared a “unwanted organization” in 2017.
He does not believe the oligarchs will rise up against Putin.
– I do not think there is any reason to expect them to act to replace Putin. They can’t do it, Khodorkovsky says in an interview.
According to him, the contribution of completely different people is needed for exclusion.
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