Vladimir Putin
From Boris Berezovsky and Mikhail Khodorkovsky are only required to comply with the law and “to be equidistant” from the Russian leadership. This was stated by the President Vladimir Putin in an interview with the American Director Oliver stone. The words of the head of state leads the RIA Novosti news Agency, which has studied the book-the transcript of the film, released in the USA.
“It was not head-on collisions. I just told them to be equidistant from the government. It was then popular term,” — said Putin on the question of whether it clashes “with Berezovsky or to people like Khodorkovsky”.
The President said that he told them that if they bought their property is strictly within the law, and do not be afraid to lose her.
According to Putin, he met with Berezovsky before his move to Moscow, noting that they have never been linked by friendly relations.
The President also said that when he worked in the Committee for external relations of the mayor of Leningrad, he was instructed to organize a meeting of a U.S. Senator, who was accompanied by Berezovsky.
Earlier it was reported that in an interview Putin said that he sees no problems with the oligarchs in contemporary Russia. “Now, as I see it, the question of the oligarchy in power is not as acute as it was in the 1990’s or early 2000’s. Now we face another, much more difficult task — it is the difference in incomes between rich people and people with low income. With regard, again, the oligarchy, then I’m in it now no problem at all do not see,” said the President of Russia.
During the 2000s, against Berezovsky was initiated several criminal cases, including the embezzlement of funds from Aeroflot and the Samara region government and embezzlement of funds of “AVTOVAZ”. In both cases, the businessman was found guilty and received prison sentences in absentia. In March 2013, the businessman died in London. The Prosecutor’s office promised that, despite this, will continue to seek the return of assets, “criminally acquired by Berezovsky and his accomplices”.
Khodorkovsky, who was imprisoned for 10 years for the oil company “YUKOS”, later removed, was pardoned in December 2013. Soon after, he left Russia and was granted a residence permit in Switzerland. In December 2015 in the homeland of it have accused in the murder of Nefteyugansk mayor Vladimir Petukhov and attempt at murder of two and more persons. Businessman his involvement in denies.