First modification:
Exiled Russian opponent Mikhail Khodorkovsky said in an interview with France 24 from London that the invasion of Ukraine is political “suicide” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who “cannot win in Ukraine, even if he manages to take Kiev.” or Kharkiv”. This war is the result of an “emotional decision” by Putin, the former ligarch added.
France 24 spoke with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an opponent who spent ten years of his life in prison, accused in particular of tax evasion by the Kremlin. An accusation still denied by our guest. This exoliarch, who was once the richest man in Russia, now lives in exile in London since his release in 2013.
Khodorkovsky said Putin has been “deeply upset” by developments in Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow-backed rebels declared autonomous republics in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine is “emotional” in nature, Khodorkovsky said, but while Putin shows “signs of senile paranoia,” he is not “crazy in the clinical sense.”
But, the Russian businessman continued, Putin has made “many mistakes” in planning the invasion of Ukraine, in part because of the isolation that plagues “all authoritarian leaders.” The Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine was “a historical mistake”, without which he could have remained in power until his death. Putin is committing political “suicide,” Khodorkovsky asserted, because he “cannot win in Ukraine, not even by taking Kiev and Kharkov.”
The Kremlin critic predicted the “breakdown” of the Russian regime within “a year or two.” While Russian public opinion largely supports the war, due to propaganda and the Kremlin’s crackdown on the press, this favorable view will change once Russian soldiers return in coffins and the population begins to suffer the effects of sanctions. economic and international isolation.
Khodorkovsky believes that Putin is now trying to “buy time” against the anti-war movement developing in Russia, and that in order to stop the demonstrations, he will have to resort to his army.
Our guest echoed the call for anti-war demonstrations launched from prison by another staunch critic of Putin, Alexei Navalny. “I support this proposal to protest, I call on all Russians to protest against the war in Ukraine. I believe that it would be a decisive factor in forcing Putin to withdraw a part of the troops that kill Ukrainians today,” the opponent asserted.
A week ago, Khodorkovsky says, he “would have laughed” at the mention of nuclear war. But not today”. “Putin is ready to use tactical nuclear weapons,” he concludes.
First modification:
Exiled Russian opponent Mikhail Khodorkovsky said in an interview with France 24 from London that the invasion of Ukraine is political “suicide” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who “cannot win in Ukraine, even if he manages to take Kiev.” or Kharkiv”. This war is the result of an “emotional decision” by Putin, the former ligarch added.
France 24 spoke with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an opponent who spent ten years of his life in prison, accused in particular of tax evasion by the Kremlin. An accusation still denied by our guest. This exoliarch, who was once the richest man in Russia, now lives in exile in London since his release in 2013.
Khodorkovsky said Putin has been “deeply upset” by developments in Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow-backed rebels declared autonomous republics in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine is “emotional” in nature, Khodorkovsky said, but while Putin shows “signs of senile paranoia,” he is not “crazy in the clinical sense.”
But, the Russian businessman continued, Putin has made “many mistakes” in planning the invasion of Ukraine, in part because of the isolation that plagues “all authoritarian leaders.” The Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine was “a historical mistake”, without which he could have remained in power until his death. Putin is committing political “suicide,” Khodorkovsky asserted, because he “cannot win in Ukraine, not even by taking Kiev and Kharkov.”
The Kremlin critic predicted the “breakdown” of the Russian regime within “a year or two.” While Russian public opinion largely supports the war, due to propaganda and the Kremlin’s crackdown on the press, this favorable view will change once Russian soldiers return in coffins and the population begins to suffer the effects of sanctions. economic and international isolation.
Khodorkovsky believes that Putin is now trying to “buy time” against the anti-war movement developing in Russia, and that in order to stop the demonstrations, he will have to resort to his army.
Our guest echoed the call for anti-war demonstrations launched from prison by another staunch critic of Putin, Alexei Navalny. “I support this proposal to protest, I call on all Russians to protest against the war in Ukraine. I believe that it would be a decisive factor in forcing Putin to withdraw a part of the troops that kill Ukrainians today,” the opponent asserted.
A week ago, Khodorkovsky says, he “would have laughed” at the mention of nuclear war. But not today”. “Putin is ready to use tactical nuclear weapons,” he concludes.
First modification:
Exiled Russian opponent Mikhail Khodorkovsky said in an interview with France 24 from London that the invasion of Ukraine is political “suicide” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who “cannot win in Ukraine, even if he manages to take Kiev.” or Kharkiv”. This war is the result of an “emotional decision” by Putin, the former ligarch added.
France 24 spoke with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an opponent who spent ten years of his life in prison, accused in particular of tax evasion by the Kremlin. An accusation still denied by our guest. This exoliarch, who was once the richest man in Russia, now lives in exile in London since his release in 2013.
Khodorkovsky said Putin has been “deeply upset” by developments in Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow-backed rebels declared autonomous republics in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine is “emotional” in nature, Khodorkovsky said, but while Putin shows “signs of senile paranoia,” he is not “crazy in the clinical sense.”
But, the Russian businessman continued, Putin has made “many mistakes” in planning the invasion of Ukraine, in part because of the isolation that plagues “all authoritarian leaders.” The Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine was “a historical mistake”, without which he could have remained in power until his death. Putin is committing political “suicide,” Khodorkovsky asserted, because he “cannot win in Ukraine, not even by taking Kiev and Kharkov.”
The Kremlin critic predicted the “breakdown” of the Russian regime within “a year or two.” While Russian public opinion largely supports the war, due to propaganda and the Kremlin’s crackdown on the press, this favorable view will change once Russian soldiers return in coffins and the population begins to suffer the effects of sanctions. economic and international isolation.
Khodorkovsky believes that Putin is now trying to “buy time” against the anti-war movement developing in Russia, and that in order to stop the demonstrations, he will have to resort to his army.
Our guest echoed the call for anti-war demonstrations launched from prison by another staunch critic of Putin, Alexei Navalny. “I support this proposal to protest, I call on all Russians to protest against the war in Ukraine. I believe that it would be a decisive factor in forcing Putin to withdraw a part of the troops that kill Ukrainians today,” the opponent asserted.
A week ago, Khodorkovsky says, he “would have laughed” at the mention of nuclear war. But not today”. “Putin is ready to use tactical nuclear weapons,” he concludes.
First modification:
Exiled Russian opponent Mikhail Khodorkovsky said in an interview with France 24 from London that the invasion of Ukraine is political “suicide” for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who “cannot win in Ukraine, even if he manages to take Kiev.” or Kharkiv”. This war is the result of an “emotional decision” by Putin, the former ligarch added.
France 24 spoke with Mikhail Khodorkovsky, an opponent who spent ten years of his life in prison, accused in particular of tax evasion by the Kremlin. An accusation still denied by our guest. This exoliarch, who was once the richest man in Russia, now lives in exile in London since his release in 2013.
Khodorkovsky said Putin has been “deeply upset” by developments in Ukraine since 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea and Moscow-backed rebels declared autonomous republics in eastern Ukraine.
The Russian president’s decision to invade Ukraine is “emotional” in nature, Khodorkovsky said, but while Putin shows “signs of senile paranoia,” he is not “crazy in the clinical sense.”
But, the Russian businessman continued, Putin has made “many mistakes” in planning the invasion of Ukraine, in part because of the isolation that plagues “all authoritarian leaders.” The Russian president’s invasion of Ukraine was “a historical mistake”, without which he could have remained in power until his death. Putin is committing political “suicide,” Khodorkovsky asserted, because he “cannot win in Ukraine, not even by taking Kiev and Kharkov.”
The Kremlin critic predicted the “breakdown” of the Russian regime within “a year or two.” While Russian public opinion largely supports the war, due to propaganda and the Kremlin’s crackdown on the press, this favorable view will change once Russian soldiers return in coffins and the population begins to suffer the effects of sanctions. economic and international isolation.
Khodorkovsky believes that Putin is now trying to “buy time” against the anti-war movement developing in Russia, and that in order to stop the demonstrations, he will have to resort to his army.
Our guest echoed the call for anti-war demonstrations launched from prison by another staunch critic of Putin, Alexei Navalny. “I support this proposal to protest, I call on all Russians to protest against the war in Ukraine. I believe that it would be a decisive factor in forcing Putin to withdraw a part of the troops that kill Ukrainians today,” the opponent asserted.
A week ago, Khodorkovsky says, he “would have laughed” at the mention of nuclear war. But not today”. “Putin is ready to use tactical nuclear weapons,” he concludes.