ISRAEL: Self-exiled Russian businessman and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky says Russia has taken another step towards authoritarianism

Record ID: 395805

  • Title: ISRAEL: Self-exiled Russian businessman and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky says Russia has taken another step towards authoritarianism
  • Date: 4th December 2007
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) BORIS BEREZOVSKY, SELF-EXILED RUSSIAN BUSINESSMAN AND KREMLIN CRITIC, SAYING: "What happened in Russia was not election. And, as far as democracy is concerned, it doesn't connect to democracy at all. It means that whatever happened in Russia yesterday, means that Russia made maybe the last step to authoritarian system." BEREZOVSKY SEATED (SOUNDBITE)
  • Embargoed: 19th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA2195K3JPZY5A7BFIP6KHOIRWT
  • Story Text: Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky condemned the outcome of Russia's parliamentary election on Monday (December 3). Speaking to Reuters television in Tel Aviv, the self-exiled Russian businessman and Kremlin critic described the result as "an absolute tragedy" for Russia which would move further back into authoritarianism.
    "What happened in Russia was not election. And, as far as democracy is concerned, it doesn't connect to democracy at all. It means that whatever happened in Russia yesterday (Sunday), means that Russia made maybe the last step to authoritarian system," Berezovsky said.
    The United Russia party of President Vladimir Putin won more than 60 percent of the votes, but observers from the Council of Europe and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) described the election as "not fair" in a statement, saying it "failed to meet many ... commitments and standards for democratic elections".
    Berezovsky warned that Putin's Russia posed a clear threat to the West.
    "I think that as soon as the West realize that Russia is not ally, that Russia is not partner, Putin's Russia, it's quicker to help West to find their tools how to protect themselves," Berezovsky said.
    The only alternative now for the political opposition, he said, would be to go underground. Putin, he added, would "like all dictators"
    end up in prison.
    "I am convinced that any questions of power in Russia, in Putin's Russia, in this regime, will not take place through the ballot box, it will take place in the streets, maybe not as peacefully and smoothly as it did in Ukraine, but an authoritarian regime can only stay in power through force," Berezovsky said.
    The Kremlin has accused Berezovsky in the past of attempting to undermine Russia's political stability. He now lives in London. Britain has repeatedly rejected Russia's demands to extradite him to stand trial on charges of embezzlement and money laundering.
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