Billionaires Aren't Targets, Putin Tells Russian Group - NYT

[goforit]

<http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/15/international/europe/15RUSS.html>

Billionaires Aren't Targets, Putin Tells Russian Group
By ERIN E. ARVEDLUNDand SABRINA TAVERNISE

Published: November 15, 2003


MOSCOW, Nov. 14 — President Vladimir V. Putin, in his first comments to Russia's business elite on the arrest of the country's richest man, reiterated Friday that he had no intention of revisiting the controversial privatizations of the 1990's.

Top businessmen, meanwhile, publicly distanced themselves from Mikhail B. Khodorkovsky, the former chief executive of the oil giant Yukos, who was arrested Oct. 25, in an indication that he may be left to his fate in jail while other billionaires continue to enjoy their wealth, wield influence behind the scenes and show public deference to Mr. Putin.

con't............

Fascinating.


EDITED BY ADMIN FOR COPYRIGHT REASONS

[bemildred]

1. As I said elsewhere, Mr. Khodorkovsky is a fool or a tool.

Pissing off Pooty-Poot was not a wise thing to do. These
other guys understand that it's just "business" and they don't
want to lose their place at the table over this. At present
I would expect that Mr. Khodorkovsky will simply be allowed to
cool his heels for a long time while the wheels of "justice"
grind, giving Mr. Putin ample time to rearrange things as he
prefers.