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Jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky loses his oil empire completely
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Posted by: Khashyar

"Jailed oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky loses his oil empire completely"

08/05/2005 14:59

He still does not believe that he was foolishly let down

The former head of the oil company Yukos, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, became expansive in his interview to the Russian newspaper Vedomosti. He showed his absolute helplessness in managing business on his behalf. Being in isolation from the events related to the Yukos case, its head was still trying to stay in touch with the company as though a football coach deprived of riding the pine. He believed that he was still controlling the company's policy with his phone calls and written orders. He could not even imagine that his team was ruled by absolutely different people who were playing their own game.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky was forced to correct or even argue with his business partner Leonid Nevzlin many times. The latter who is a thousand miles from Russia turned out to be the master of the team who seized the reins of power pretending to make order on behalf of the "real coach." Khodorkovsky objected once again to Nevzlin accusing Roman Abromovich of company's collapse. According to Khodorkovsky the Sibneft's owner is an innocent victim of circumstances (as Khodorkovsky himself, of course). The main villain of the story is Igor Sechin who is struggling for influence on President Vladimir Putin.

Khodorkovsky suddenly felt affection for Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Executive Office, Vladislav Surkov, hoping that the latter will not keep him company in Moscow prison "Matrosskaya Tishina" ("Sailor's Silence"). Khodorkovsky's sincerity is under question. However, there is less room for doubts about the relevance of the information that is provided to the disgraced Yukos oligarch.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky bases himself upon Surkov's interview, the trustworthiness of which is still a subject to question. He claims that he is building his hopes on charity and public services pointing to the funds supporting Russian poetry and philosophy and an association to help Russian convicts - organizations, which seem to function but nobody (including Khodorkovsky himself) has ever heard of them. He is making predictions about the political situation in Russia, relying on the facts provided by his agents. But he is not more than a loudspeaker for his informants. He does not have any other choice but to trust his friends. The question is to which extent these so-called friends can be trusted.

Khodorkovsky's hasty and contradictory statements seem to prove that he grasps the sense and the consequences of his own words post factum. And here comes the moment of refutation based on the fresh opinion of the prisoner.

Although in custody Mikhail Khodorkovsky got completely lost in politics. He still does not believe that he was foolishly let down, that his name is being speculated and that the movement for his support is a mere fake. Realizing this he abandons his old friends and backslides seeking new opportunities. He is not even scared of befriending his former sworn enemies.

At the moment Mikhail Khodorkovsky is driven into the corner where he realized that money is not enough to solve problems. As he is running out of money he decided to burn his boats and play poor oligarch who slid into a reverie over human soul and justice. But there is hardly anyone who would give shelter to the oligarch, although racked by remorse. The only option, which is left for Khodorkovsky, is going for social activity. He is of no use for the big politics already.

Ivan Nepluyev

(from pravda.ru)

Posted by: Pawel_PL.USA

He gets what he deserves, I suppose.

Posted by: Cheburashka

Quote:

Originally posted by Pawel_PL.USA
He gets what he deserves, I suppose.

Pawel, I am curious why you feel that way about Khodorkovsky?

Posted by: Pawel_PL.USA

I have nothing against him as a man, but I think that its about time that Russia gets rid of all sorts of Khodorovskis, Berezovskis and Gusinskis. I'm sick and tired of all kosher media portraying him as a victim. Millions of people in the world are starving every day and all they care about is one of their "chosen people".

Posted by: Cheburashka

Many people feel hatred towards the oligarchs because that reflects their views about people making large amounts of money. We have as many people who hate Bill Gates simply because he is wealthy. It always amazes me that many people hate the rich...until they win the lottery and become one of them. Then, suddenly it isn't so bad.

Posted by: Pawel_PL.USA

I coudn't care less how much money he has (or had, to be more exact). I don't hate the rich simply because they are wealthy - I'm not a socialist. But I am glad that they days when a few people of the known nationality, such as Berezovski, Gusinski, Khodorovski and others, were able to run Russia and its alcoholic president Yeltsin are finally coming to an end with the noise of a jail cell door slamming. Besides, nothing bad really happened to Berezovski and Gusinski - one went to Spain, the other to Israel.

And again - don't get me wrong - I don't hate wealthy people. My family was wealthy before 1939 when the Soviets and Germans shook hands and everything dissappeared literally overnight. And there were more families in Poland that this happened to, and no one showed the kind of compassion that is now showed to Khodorovski.

Posted by: Khashyar

I can understand how many Poles and other Eastern Europeans feel anger towards Russia (and the former Soviet Union) for occupying their countries for so many years, and treating them like a colony.

This is why many South Americans and Middle Eastern people feel resentment towards the United States, who may not have physically occupied their countries (though in some cases they did), but for the economic and political pressure and influence that the U.S. has exerted over their countries.

People do not like to be occupied, controled, or to have their freedom limited.

I am sure over time, as long as the dominating country changes its behaviour, then the views and feelings of the people of the occupied country will heal and change.

Khashyar

Posted by: Cheburashka

I'm not sure what Khodorkovsky ever controlled, took over, or oppressed. And I can't understand how somebody being in jail and losing his company can be called "compassion". The guy made lots of money legally. He is a very astute business man. The guy decided to sponsor candidates that were opposed to Putin. Suddenly the guy is in jail and has lost everything. I'll pass on that kind of compassion please.

Posted by: Pawel_PL.USA

With the difference that the Americans in Latin America or the Middle East, unlike Germans or Soviets, never murdered people en masse, held them in death camps etc.

Posted by: Jutman

Hi
sorry for a late reply.

From what I can understand, many of these riches ologarchs got their business empire, by paying about 2->5% of whats it worth today, even that time, they got from a lot less than market value.

I am can't understand the connection from tax avoidtation to complete losing the company. It seems clearly that is guilty of not paying tax, but of course its diffiult to tell how guilty, and how many years.