Crisis after 2015 will finally finish off Russia

 Influential Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat published an interview with a political opponent of Putin, thrown into jail by the Kremlin for many years, to get rid Putin of a dangerous rival, Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

The Finnish newspaper says:

"Helsingin Sanomat was given the rare opportunity to interview former oil billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who is imprisoned in Segezha in Russian Karelia.
 
As no journalists are allowed in the prison, the questions were submitted in writing to Khodorkovsky's spokeswoman, who later supplied the answers.
 
It is impossible to know with any certainty if the answers were those of Khodorkovsky himself or if he was possibly censored or put under duress", points out the newspaper.
 
In a very short interview Khodorkovsky in particular said:


"What is the future of Russia, now that the Putin presidency has been decided for all practical purposes, and could continue another 12 years? I assume that we are faced with stagnation. For instance, after 2015, when the economic resources of those presently in power have been exhausted, any crisis may prove to be its last.
 
I stayed in Russia in 2003 because I am a Russian. Putin will release me only if doing so will benefit him more than keeping me in prison would. In addition I doubt that he would dare allow me to act in politics.
 
Everyone in Russia knows that political forces are behind my sentencing, and they do not spark any kind of discussion. These are the siloviki [security service personnel] of the inner circle of Vladimir Putin. If we speak about individuals, [current Deputy Prime Minister] Igor Sechin has a leading role".
 
Khodorkovsky also commented on the entry into politics of oligarch Prokhorov.

"At present, Mikhail Prokhorov seems to be nothing but a project of Putin, even though this might not be to the liking of Prokhorov himself. If he really proves to be a project of Putin, he will have to guarantee Vladimir Putin a position in the political centre", said Khodorkovsky. At the same time he misspoke, that he will not try to predict Prokhorov's fate - " everything can change in a completely unexpected direction".