Mikhail Khodorkovsky: Putin’s bandit regime enters a phase of totalitarian oppression of society



[ad_1]

Kremlin critic and former oil magnate Mikhail Khodorkovsky says Alexei Navaln’s arrest was an attempt by President Vladimir Putin, whom he describes as an “aging autocrat”, to show that he remains of utmost importance in Russia.

Khodorkovsky explained that the West needed to act, not speak, if it wanted to influence the Kremlin after Navaln’s arrest. The Kremlin has argued that Navaln, who was sentenced to 30 days in prison on Monday for violating probation, should be tried like any other criminal. The Kremlin has also argued that the West should not interfere.

Khodorkovsky has no doubt that the West should impose sanctions on those involved in expanding the corrupt Russian monetary network around the world, instead of targeting Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

“Now he realizes that he has to show that his voice sounds louder and that his word is the last, or people will think he is not what he used to be. Putin is an aging autocrat who rules through bandit groups and bandit methods, he is not protected by law the way it is supposed to protect the president of the United States or the institution of the president of the United States. The only thing that protects him is the perception of his gang that he is supreme, “said former Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s richest man, was arrested on a private plane at one of Siberia’s airports and convicted of tax evasion, fraud, and embezzlement and imprisoned, and his once powerful former oil company Yukos was split up.

The Kremlin treated Khodorkovsky like a common criminal. Khodorkovsky denied the allegations. 10 passed in captivity, 2013 was released from prison.

Khodorkovsky said he wanted to believe that Navaln would be released, but the reality was that Navaln would face increasing pressure from Russian authorities, including the prospect of a 10-year prison sentence.



[ad_2]