Posted on 10/27/2005 12:09:50 PM PDT by sergey1973
The first public statement of Khodorkovsky issued from the penal Colony was published.
"Since October 16th, I have been living in the land of Decembrists [December 1825 Russian insurgents against Imperial power], political prisoners and uranium pits. I'm 600 Km [400 miles] away from Chita, 6500 KM [4000 miles] away from Moscow. The Kremlin has tried to completely isolate me from the country and the people; moreover--it tried to exterminate me physically. Therefore, those in power proved themselves once more unable to have an honest and open discussion with me (and to have a straight talk with the real opposition in general). They think that Khodorkovsky will soon be forgotten. They try to persuade you, friends, that the struggle is over. That we must acquiesce to the power of the self-serving bureaucracy. That's not truth. The struggle has only begun", Khodorkovsky statement says.
The former head of YUKOS thinks that the country faces the daunting tasks. "We must formulate the program of Russian development in the 21st century. We must build again the army and the judicial system.We must build from the scratch bureaucracy that will be interested in the well-being of the country and the society--not in it's own boundless personal enrichment. We must move away from the destructive policies of turning Russia into an energy colony and make a U-Turn toward the "economics of knowledge". We must keep inside Russia Far East and Siberia that within a few years may fall under the control of China. We must restore prestige of Russia destroyed as the result of unprofessionalism and sometimes as the result of the outright betrayal. To solve these tasks, we need a completely different elite. We need heroes--not gray suites. We need brave, honest and consistent leaders. Those people are you my compatriots and supporters. Everyone of you who is not afraid today to support political prisoners and say "No" to the repressive machine of the criminal bureaucracy, have the right to be called 'The Man' ", Khodorkovsky stated. According to Khodorkovsky, "The time of gray suites is over--the time of Heroes is coming".
Russia (Khodorkovsky) Ping !
Everybody please keep the discussion to a point without personal attacks and insults. Thanks.
What's to discuss. The man is irrelavent. He thought he could do what he wanted and sell off the oil fields to anyone he pleased....ended badly. Then he thought with his down fall he'd take the whole economy with him...just a blip. Now he's a criminal in a penal colony and his political ratings are less then 3% votes and about 10% sympathy in general. I could probably get that much support if I moved there and had $10 million to throw around.
No more then Al Capone's deserved any "respect". I don't give respect that easily. Lemonov made his stand too, shall we give that nazi respect?
Limonov and Khodorkovsky is a false analogiy. Khodorkovsky statements have nothing in common with Communism, Nazism or any other totalitarian ideology.
Russia/Khodorkovsky PING ! Folks--any thoughts ?
State Capitalism which he represents is a form of socialism by corporate monopolies.
The man has a ridiculously-inflated opinion of himself, to compare himself to the 1825 Decembrists. (I pay homage to my Penn State education that I know that term and have some awareness of Russian history).
The thief must be in jail.
I think Mr. Khodorkovsky is just pursuing international sympathy with such statements. Secondly, I don't share the widely distributed opnion that he's Russia's best entrepreneur. High margin in oil business allows a fool to be successful here.
Anyway, his political activity in colony is not bad for Russia. We need pluralism.
Sure. Mr. Khodorkovsly is doing a prison term.
moreover--it tried to exterminate me physically
Such statements should be well-based. When is he going to file an official compaint?
“We must formulate the program of Russian development in the 21st century. We must build again the army and the judicial system.We must build from the scratch bureaucracy that will be interested in the well-being of the country and the society--not in it's own boundless personal enrichment”
Amen. BTW who’d say otherwise?
We must move away from the destructive policies of turning Russia into an energy colony and make a U-Turn toward the "economics of knowledge".
Strange to hear it from a former owner of a oil-drilling company who never invested in something like that.
Demagogy.
I think Russia need politician of new generation - nationalist conservatives.
"I think Russia need politician of new generation - nationalist conservatives."
I think Khodorkovsky statement comes very close to this.
He speaks like a politician who is both pro-Western and Russian Patriot. I could be wrong, but I respect him nevertheless. His refusal to flee the country and fight Putin regime deserves utmost respect regardless of his shady past during Yeltsin era.
I think there should be somebody else. Not Mr. Khodorkovsky. A person who has a record of work for Russia. Mr. Khodorkovsky lacks it.
Very good knowledge of Russian History--5 stars to Penn State !
However, I would disagree that Khodorkovsky has inflated opinion of himself. I think he simply noted the fact that he was sent to the same place where a lot of Decembrists and political prisoners were once sent. Whatever we may think of Khodorkovsky past, I still believe he deserves a respect for standing up to the Putin regime and refusing to continue paying protection money or do other favors to the Kremlin officials in exchange for their benevolence. He tried to play by civilized rules and got severely punished for that by the current regime.
Lack of record of work for Russia ? First of all, anybody who tried to do business honestly by paying clearly defined taxes instead of paying protection money to the Kremlin officials, already did something important for Russia.
Second, Khodorkovsky created Open Russia Foundation that sponsored a number of educational and cultural projects inside and outside of Russia. Is it a lack of work for Russia ? See the link for Open Russia Foundation and judge for yourself.
I extend my sympathy to anyone who plays by civilized rules. We don't live in a civilized world, unfortunately; it's just a veneer, and people have to find a way to survive within the systems and old-boy-networks that are in place around them.
Please add me to this ping list, thanks.
I don't have a formal Ping List Yet--I think I'll create one soon. In a meantime, I'll remember to include you in my posts--Thanks !
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.