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⚫ {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2011}}
{{About|the Russian businessman|the Russian pianist|Boris Berezovsky (pianist)}}

{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
|name = Boris Berezovsky |name = Boris Berezovsky
|image = |image = Boris Berezovsky.jpg
|image_size = |image_size = 150px
|caption= |caption=Boris Berezovsky, 2007
|birth_date = |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1946|1|23}}
|birth_place = Moscow, ] |birth_place = Moscow, ]
|ethnicity = Russian
}} }}
'''Boris Abramovich Berezovsky''' ({{lang-ru|Бори́с Абра́мович Березо́вский}}; also known as '''Platon Elenin'''; born 23 January 1946) is a ] businessman, member of ], who was accused of numerous crimes in Russia and sentenced to several years of imprisonment in absentia. Despite the fact that arrest warrant has been issued to Interpol by Russian and Brazilian authorities, Berezovsky is currently a political ] in Britain, which so far has refused repeated extradition requests from Russia.


He is best known for his role as a ], media tycoon and infamous politician during the presidency of ] in the 1990s. He has been described by critics as the epitome of Russian "]," but he denies having ever taken part in the violence and crime that tainted Russian business during that era.<ref name=profile/> Berezovsky was at the height of his power in the later Yeltsin years, when he was deputy secretary of ], a friend of Boris Yeltsin's daughter ], and a member of the Yeltsin inner circle, or "family".<ref name=profile/>
⚫ {{POV|date=July 2011}}


⚫ Berezovsky made his fortune by capturing state assets at knockdown prices during Russia's rush towards ] in very questionable ways.<ref name="plotting"> The Guardian. 13 April 2007 </ref> He took ownership of the ] oil company and became the main shareholder in the country's main television channel, ], which he turned into a ] vehicle for Boris Yeltsin in the run-up to the ]. It is said that, in contrast to Russian entrepreneurs such as ], Berezovsky did not enrich any of the enterprises with which he became involved or took over (e.g. Sibneft, ORT, the car dealership Avtovaz, Omsk Oil Refinery, National Sports Fund, and aluminum smelters Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Novokuznetsk), but instead drained them of cash.<ref name="dermokratizatsiya2003">Johanna Granville, "Dermokratizatsiya and Prikhvatizatsiya: the Russian Kleptocracy and Rise of Organized Crime,"] in ''Demokratizatsiya'' vol. 11, no. 3 (summer 2003): 449–457.</ref> Although he helped ] enter the "family", and funded the party that formed Putin's parliamentary base, Putin moved to regain control of the ORT television station and to curb the political ambitions of Russia's oligarchs, who were extremely unpopular with the Russian public.<ref>, '']'', 3 December 2005</ref> Many of Berezovsky's former business partners (Roman Abramovich) continue to play a key role in Russian economic life.
'''Boris Abramovich Berezovsky''' ({{lang-ru|Бори́с Абра́мович Березо́вский}} is a ] businessman, ], member of ]. He is best known for his role as a ], media tycoon and politician during the presidency of ] in the 1990s. <ref name=profile/> Berezovsky was at the height of his power in the later Yeltsin years, when he was deputy secretary of ].<ref name=profile/>


⚫ Following the ], Berezovsky went into opposition and fled the country after being accused of ] a regional government of US$13&nbsp;million. He was later granted ] in the United Kingdom. He has since publicly stated that he is on a mission to bring down Putin "by force".<ref name=profile>, ], 31 May 2007</ref><ref name=los/> In the UK, he became associated with ], ] and ] in what has become known as "the London Circle" of Russian exiles. He is a founder of ]. According to Professor Richard Sakwa, Berezovsky's behaviour is always marked by audacity and cunning.<ref name="sakwa_behaviour">{{cite book |title=Putin, Russia's choice |last=Sakwa |first=Richard |authorlink=Richard Sakwa |coauthors= |year=2008 |edition=2nd |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-40765-6 |page=145 }}</ref>
⚫ Berezovsky made his fortune during Russia's privatisation of its nationalised companies.<ref name="plotting"> The Guardian. 2007-04-13</ref> He took ownership of the ] oil company and became the main shareholder in the country's main television channel, ], which supported Boris Yeltsin in the run-up to the ].<ref name="dermokratizatsiya2003">Johanna Granville, "Dermokratizatsiya and Prikhvatizatsiya: the Russian Kleptocracy and Rise of Organized Crime,"] in ''Demokratizatsiya'' vol. 11, no. 3 (summer 2003): 449-457.</ref> He helped fund the party that formed ] 's parliamentary base.<ref>, '']'', December 3, 2005</ref>


In 2007, a Moscow court found Berezovsky guilty of massive ] ]. He was sentenced to six years in jail and ordered to repay the $9&nbsp;million that the court said he had stolen from the state airline ].<ref name=jail>, ], 29 November 2007</ref> He has also been accused by Russian authorities of being involved in the murders of several leading critics of the Putin's regime, including ] and journalist ], in an attempt to destabilize the country and discredit Putin. In response, Berezovsky – amongst others – has attributed the killings to the Putin regime as a means of political intimidation. ]s for him have been issued in Russia<ref name=r/> and ]<ref name=b/> for allegations of ], ], and ]. Berezovsky has been under investigation by ] for money laundering since 1999.<ref name=s/>
⚫ Following the ], Berezovsky went into opposition and left the country. He was later granted ] in the United Kingdom. He has since publicly stated that he is on a mission to bring down Putin "by force".<ref name=profile>, ], 31 May 2007</ref><ref name=los/> In the UK, he became associated with ], ] and ] in what has become known as "the London Circle" of Russian exiles. He is a founder of ].


Berezovsky survived an assassination attempt in 1994 unharmed. Berezovsky claims that there have been several other assassination attempts directed against him, which he accuses Russian agents of carrying out.
In 2007, a Moscow court found Berezovsky guilty of ] ]. He was sentenced to six years in jail and ordered to repay the $9 million that the court said he had stolen from the state airline ].<ref name=jail>, ], 29 November 2007</ref>


Berezovsky has been married four times and has six children{{Citation needed|date=April 2009}}.


==Early life and scientific research== ==Early life and scientific research==
Berezovsky was born in 1946 in Moscow to Abram Markovich Berezovsky, a Jewish civil engineer in construction works, and his wife Anna Gelman. He studied ] and then ], receiving his ] in 1983. After graduating from the Moscow Forestry Engineering Institute in 1968, Berezovsky worked as an ], from 1969 till 1987 filling the positions of an ], research officer and finally the head of a department in the Institute of Management Problems of the ]. Berezovsky did research on ] and ], publishing 16 books and articles between 1975 and 1989; his ] is 4. Berezovsky was born in 1946 in Moscow to Abram Markovich Berezovsky, a Jewish civil engineer in construction works, and his wife Anna Gelman. He studied ] and ], receiving his doctorate in 1983. After graduating from the Moscow Forestry Engineering Institute in 1968, Berezovsky worked as an engineer, from 1969 till 1987 filling the positions of an ], research officer and finally the head of a laboratory in the Institute of Control Sciences of the ]. Berezovsky did research on decision making theory, publishing books and
articles between 1975 and 1989.


==Business career in Russia== ==Business career in Russia==
The foundation of his fortune lay in an arrangement Berezovski forged with the management of Avtovaz, the huge and ramshackle Russian car maker. In exchange for cutting senior management into the action, he was able to get cars straight off the assembly line for far less than the cost of production, which he then sold at immense profit through his newly founded chain of auto dealerships. The factory workers paid the difference by going without pay for months on end.<ref name = "Godfather2">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_10_32/ai_66495297/?tag=content;col1 Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the Looting of Russia</ref> The foundation of his fortune lay in an arrangement Berezovsky forged with the management of ], the huge and ramshackle Russian car maker. In exchange for cutting senior management into the action, he was able to get cars straight off the assembly line for far less than the cost of production, which he then sold at immense profit through his newly founded chain of auto dealerships. The factory workers paid the difference by going without pay for months on end.<ref name = "Godfather2">http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1316/is_10_32/ai_66495297/?tag=content;col1 Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the Looting of Russia</ref> According to some sources, Berezovsky was also initially involved in car ] rackets.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amazon.com/Tycoon-New-Russian-Vladimir-Mashkov/product-reviews/B0001LJCAW |title=Customer Reviews: Tycoon – A New Russian |publisher=Amazon.com |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref>


The early '90s, when Berezovsky was getting under way, was the time of the great gang wars in Moscow, as rival criminal coalitions shot it out for control of key industries and businesses. Businessmen could only ward off extortion or worse by paying one or other criminal group for a "roof"--protection. On one side in the most important war stood the ], much feared for their ruthlessness, and impenetrable to outsiders. On the other were the "Slavic alliance," native Russian gangsters determined to fight off the Chechen threat. It appears that Berezovsky forged an alliance with the Chechen forces, who provided his roof, a connection that would have terrible consequences in years to come. In the meantime, his fearsome allies took him through some tough times, such as the bloody gun battle on Lenin Prospekt outside one of his showrooms in 1993, or, more seriously, the detonation of a large bomb beside his passing car, which killed his bodyguard, decapitated his driver, and left him badly wounded.<ref name="Godfather2" /> In a week, several people were arrested from the criminal group headed by ] (also known as "Silvestr"). The Moscow Trade Bank controlled by that group shortly returned some funds it owned to Berezovski's conglomerate. In about three months (September 14, 1994) ] was killed by a car explosion, organizers of which have never been found.<ref name=Godfather/> The early '90s, when Berezovsky was getting under way, was the time of the great gang wars in Moscow, as rival criminal coalitions shot it out for control of key industries and businesses. Businessmen could only ward off ] or worse by paying one or other criminal group for a "roof"--protection. On one side in the most important war stood the ], much feared for their ruthlessness, and impenetrable to outsiders. On the other were the "Slavic alliance," native Russian gangsters determined to fight off the Chechen threat. It appears that Berezovsky forged an alliance with the Chechen forces, who provided his roof, a connection that would have terrible consequences in years to come. In the meantime, his fearsome allies took him through some tough times, such as the bloody gun battle on ] outside one of his showrooms in 1993, or, more seriously, the detonation of a large bomb beside his passing car, which killed his bodyguard, decapitated his driver, and left him badly wounded.<ref name="Godfather2" /> In a week, several people were arrested from the ] (also known as "Silvestr"). The Moscow Trade Bank controlled by that group shortly returned some funds it owned to Berezovsky's ]. In about three months (14 September 1994) Sergey Timofeev was killed by a car explosion, organizers of which have never been found.<ref name=Godfather/>


By 1994, Berezovsky had moved beyond dependence on mobster protection. He had forged a more potent alliance by paying for the publication of Boris Yeltsin's memoirs, thus gaining entree to the inner circle around the grateful author/president. This court was populated with strange figures, such as the "hippie journalist" ], through whom Berezovsky obtained his entree; Yeltsin's tennis coach, who ran a large criminal empire of his own from a Kremlin office; not to mention ], for a while the powerful chief of Yeltsin's Praetorian guard who later reported that Berezovsky had asked him to kill a business rival. Korzhakov performed great services to history by his assiduous bugging of everyone's phones, leaking the tapes when it seemed useful, and by his forthcoming reminiscences once he had fallen from his master's graces.<ref name="Godfather2" /> By 1994, Berezovsky had moved beyond dependence on ] protection. He had forged a more potent alliance by paying for the publication of Boris Yeltsin's memoirs, thus gaining entrée to the inner circle around the grateful author/president. This court was populated with strange figures, such as the "hippie journalist" ], through whom Berezovsky obtained his entrée; Yeltsin's tennis coach, who ran a large criminal empire of his own from a ] office; not to mention ], for a while the powerful chief of Yeltsin's Praetorian guard who later reported that Berezovsky had asked him to kill a business rival. Korzhakov performed great services to history by his assiduous bugging of everyone's phones, leaking the tapes when it seemed useful, and by his forthcoming reminiscences once he had fallen from his master's graces.<ref name="Godfather2" />


Once inside "the family," Berezovsky masterfully parlayed political connections into cash. Key to his modus operandi was the realization (shared by many of his peers in the rising business oligarchy) that it was not necessary to control a business, simply its cash flow. In a remarkably candid 1996 interview with ] he termed this approach the "privatization of profit" A fascinating chapter lays out in detail, complete with the transcripts of bugged phone Calls, how this method was successfully applied to the looting of Aeroflot, the formerly profitable state airline. Thanks in part to the appointment of Yeltsin's son-in-law as the company's head, Berezovsky was able to siphon off huge chunks of Aeroflot's considerable hard currency earnings through a series of shell companies in Switzerland.<ref name="Godfather2" /> Once inside "the family," Berezovsky masterfully parleyed political connections into cash. Key to his ] was the realization (shared by many of his peers in the rising business oligarchy) that it was not necessary to control a business, simply its cash flow. In a remarkably candid 1996 interview with ] he termed this approach the "privatization of profit" A fascinating chapter lays out in detail, complete with the transcripts of bugged phone Calls, how this method was successfully applied to the looting of Aeroflot, the formerly profitable state airline. Thanks in part to the appointment of Yeltsin's son-in-law as the company's head, Berezovsky was able to siphon off huge chunks of Aeroflot's considerable hard currency earnings through a series of shell companies in Switzerland.<ref name="Godfather2" />


From aviation, Berezovsky moved on to the really big money in Russia—oil. His entry into the oil business was facilitated by the most egregious of all the great ripoffs that have charactarized post-Soviet Russia, the "loans for shares" scheme by which our hero and his fellow oligarchs helped themselves to priceless chunks of the country's resources, for pennies on the dollar, in return for financing Yeltsin's re-election in 1996. Following that free, but hardly fair, election, the godfathers increased his political profile, taking various high-level government posts (without of course ceasing his business operations for a second). It was at this time that his interest in Chechen matters re-emerged, in the form of lavish ransom payments to kidnappers in Chechnya for the retrieval of their victims. Klebnikov points out that this flow of money to the gangs in the devastated territory effectively made it impossible for the elected Chechen leader to stabilize his country. The consequent anarchy, culminating in the invasion of Dagestan in the summer of 1999 by fundamentalist Islamist Chechens, provided the backdrop for the second Chechen war and the rise to power of Vladimir Putin. Klebnikov suspends judgment as to whether any of the leadership in Moscow had a hand in the terrorist bombings in the capital that provided the final pretext for the invasion of Chechnya last year, although George Soros has been less demure, heavily hinting in an article in the New York Review of Books that Berezovsky deliberately fomented the war in furtherance of his political intrigues.<ref name="Godfather2" /> From aviation, Berezovsky moved on to the really big money in Russia—oil. His entry into the oil business was facilitated by the most egregious of all the great rip-offs that have characterized post-Soviet Russia, the "loans for shares" scheme by which our hero and his fellow oligarchs helped themselves to priceless chunks of the country's resources, for pennies on the dollar, in return for financing Yeltsin's re-election in 1996. Following that free, but hardly fair, election, the godfathers increased his political profile, taking various high-level government posts (without of course ceasing his business operations for a second). It was at this time that his interest in Chechen matters re-emerged, in the form of lavish ransom payments to kidnappers in Chechnya for the retrieval of their victims. Klebnikov points out that this flow of money to the gangs in the devastated territory effectively made it impossible for the elected Chechen leader to stabilize his country. The consequent anarchy, culminating in the invasion of ] in the summer of 1999 by fundamentalist Islamist Chechens, provided the backdrop for the second Chechen war and the rise to power of Vladimir Putin. Klebnikov suspends judgment as to whether any of the leadership in Moscow had a hand in the terrorist bombings in the capital that provided the final pretext for the invasion of Chechnya last year, although George Soros has been less demure, heavily hinting in an article in the New York Review of Books that Berezovsky deliberately fomented the war in furtherance of his political intrigues.<ref name="Godfather2" />


During the presidency of ] from 1991 to 1999, Berezovsky was among the businessmen who gained access to the president. He acquired stakes in state companies including AutoVAZ, Aeroflot, and several oil properties that he (together with ]) organized into ]. Berezovsky established a bank to finance his operations and acquired several news media holdings as well. Berezovsky was a leading proponent of political and economic ] in Russia. He has frequently entered into politics by getting control over the media sources (his holdings included the television channels ] and ] (for which he paid almost nothing but gained control over them with the help of ]), and newspapers '']'', '']'' and '']''), financing political candidates, making political statements, and even seeking office himself. His media holdings provided essential support for ] in 1996. Berezovsky famously boasted how he was part of a small coterie of so-called oligarchs who owned 50 per cent of Russia's wealth.<ref name="marsh"> The Times. 2007-07-30</ref> During the presidency of Boris Yeltsin from 1991 to 1999, Berezovsky was among the businessmen who gained access to the president. He acquired stakes in state companies including AutoVAZ, Aeroflot, and several oil properties that he (together with ]) organized into ]. Berezovsky established a bank to finance his operations and acquired several news media holdings as well. Berezovsky was a leading proponent of political and economic ] in Russia. He has frequently entered into politics by getting control over the media sources (his holdings included the television channels ORT and ] (for which he paid almost nothing but gained control over them with the help of Boris Yeltsin), and newspapers '']'', '']'' and '']''), financing political candidates, making political statements, and even seeking office himself. His media holdings provided essential support for ] in 1996. Berezovsky famously boasted how he was part of a small coterie of so-called oligarchs who owned 50 per cent of Russia's wealth.<ref name="marsh"> The Times. 30 July 2007 </ref>


Later, when in exile, Berezovsky had to fight legal battles over his holdings.<ref name="nyt_bere"/> According to New York Times, there is a suspicion that Berezovsky's later critical activities against the Russian government could simply be an attempt to orchestrate a political crisis for Putin and win political asylum in Britain as a means to protect permanently the wealth he carved out of Russia in the early days, when the pickings were easy.<ref name="nyt_bere"/> Later, when in ], Berezovsky had to fight legal battles over his holdings.<ref name="nyt_bere"/> According to ], there is a suspicion that Berezovsky's later critical activities against the Russian government could simply be an attempt to orchestrate a political crisis for Putin and win ] in Britain as a means to protect permanently the wealth he carved out of Russia in the early days, when the pickings were easy.<ref name="nyt_bere"/>


==Political career== ==Political career==
Berezovsky was briefly executive secretary of the ] (CIS) and later a member of the ] (Russia's lower house of ]) from 1999 to July 2000. He survived several assassination attempts,<ref name=finn>, '']'', December 9, 2006</ref>. Berezovsky was briefly executive secretary of the ] (CIS) and later a member of the ] (Russia's lower house of parliament) from 1999 to July 2000. He survived several assassination attempts,.<ref name=finn>, '']'', 9 December 2006</ref>


In the position of the deputy secretary of the ],<ref>, ], 07.11.1997</ref> he was also involved in talks on freeing Russian and foreign hostages kidnapped in ] and allegedly transferred large sums of money in exchange for hostages. Berezovsky admitted, that in 1997, he gave $2 million of his own money to Chechen field commander ], who was then Prime Minister of Chechnya.<ref name="nyt_bere"></ref> The money was intended for restoration of a cement factory, he said, but he admitted it might have been used for other purposes.<ref name="nyt_bere"/> Berezovsky had strong ties with ] in Moscow. According to ] book "Godfather of Kremlin Boris Berezovsky or looting of Russia", those connections came from Berezovsky's close relations with Chechen mafia, whom he paid for protection against other mafia gangs in early 90s. He said that he "saved at least fifty people, who otherwise would have been killed; most of them were simple soldiers. And believe me, all of this was strictly official, with the full knowledge and consent of the Kremlin."<ref name="dissident"/> However, Chechen president ] accused Berezovsky and the Russian government of collusion with the hostage-takers.<ref name="dissident"/> In the position of the deputy secretary of the ],<ref>, ], 07.11.1997</ref> he was also involved in talks on freeing Russian and foreign hostages kidnapped in ] and allegedly transferred large sums of money in exchange for hostages. Berezovsky admitted, that in 1997, he gave $2&nbsp;million of his own money to Chechen field commander ], who was then Prime Minister of Chechnya.<ref name="nyt_bere">{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00EFD8163DF932A35751C0A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2 |title=Russian Says Kremlin Faked 'Terror Attacks' |work=New York Times |date=1 February 2002 |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref> The money was intended for restoration of a cement factory, he said, but he admitted it might have been used for other purposes.<ref name="nyt_bere"/> Berezovsky had strong ties with ] in Moscow. According to ] book "Godfather of Kremlin Boris Berezovsky or looting of Russia", those connections came from Berezovsky's close relations with Chechen mafia, whom he paid for protection against other mafia gangs in early 90s. He said that he "saved at least fifty people, who otherwise would have been killed; most of them were simple soldiers. And believe me, all of this was strictly official, with the full knowledge and consent of the Kremlin."<ref name="dissident"/> However, Chechen president ] accused Berezovsky and the Russian government of collusion with the hostage-takers.<ref name="dissident"/>


The first assault against Berezovsky was launched during Primakov's premiership, when Berezovsky was accused of money laundering when he was The first assault against Berezovsky was launched during Primakov's premiership, when Berezovsky was accused of money laundering when he was at the head of Aeroflot. However, in the event it was Primakov who was dismissed.<ref name="sakwa_aeroflot">{{cite book |title=Putin, Russia's choice |last=Sakwa |first=Richard |authorlink=Richard Sakwa |coauthors= |year=2008 |edition=2nd |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-40765-6 |page=71 }}</ref>
at the head of Aeroflot. However, in the event it was Primakov who was dismissed.<ref name="sakwa_aeroflot">{{cite book |title=Putin, Russia's choice |last=Sakwa |first=Richard |authorlink=Richard Sakwa |coauthors= |year=2008 |edition=2nd |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-40765-6 |page=71 }}</ref>


According to ], an associate of Berezovsky and Litvinenko, in 1999 Berezovsky secured ]'s appointment to the ] position as a result of a secret agreement, where Putin promised his loyalty to Yeltsin and his closest circle including Berezovsky himself.<ref name="dissident"/> In June 2000 '']'' reported that Spanish police discovered Putin secretly visited a villa in Spain belonging to Berezovsky on up to five different occasions in 1999.<ref>, '']'', June 15, 2000</ref> According to ], Berezovsky was strongly opposed to the ] but nevertheless supported Putin's ]. Just before the March 2000 elections, ] wrote, "Berezovsky unleashed a propaganda blitz that obliterated the opposition as surely as Russia's tanks obliterated Grozny." At least two candidates who were widely felt to have a reasonable chance of winning over Putin - the mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, and the former premier Yevgeny Primakov - were swiftly eliminated through an elaborate smear campaign.<ref name="al-ahram"> Al-Ahram Weekly, 2002-03-21</ref> However, according to Goldfarb, Putin later broke the agreement with Berezovsky, allegedly when he was infuriated by the critical coverage of the ] by ORT TV channel owned by Berezovsky. Putin forced Berezovsky to sell his ORT shares, partly in exchange for promising to free ], a former manager of Aeroflot company and close associate of Berezovsky, according to Goldfarb.<ref name="dissident"/> According to Alex Goldfarb, an associate of Berezovsky and Litvinenko, in 1999 Berezovsky secured ]'s appointment to the Prime Minister position as a result of a secret agreement, where Putin promised his loyalty to Yeltsin and his closest circle including Berezovsky himself.<ref name="dissident"/> In June 2000 '']'' reported that Spanish police discovered Putin secretly visited a villa in Spain belonging to Berezovsky on up to five different occasions in 1999.<ref>, '']'', 15 June 2000</ref> According to ], Berezovsky was strongly opposed to the ] but nevertheless supported Putin's ]. Just before the March 2000 elections, ] wrote, "Berezovsky unleashed a propaganda blitz that obliterated the opposition as surely as Russia's tanks obliterated Grozny." At least two candidates who were widely felt to have a reasonable chance of winning over Putin – the mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, and the former premier Yevgeny Primakov – were swiftly eliminated through an elaborate smear campaign.<ref name="al-ahram"> Al-Ahram Weekly, 21 March 2002 </ref> However, according to Goldfarb, Putin later broke the agreement with Berezovsky, allegedly when he was infuriated by the critical coverage of the ] by ORT TV channel owned by Berezovsky. Putin forced Berezovsky to sell his ORT shares, partly in exchange for promising to free ], a former manager of Aeroflot company and close associate of Berezovsky, according to Goldfarb.<ref name="dissident"/>


Mark Kramer, Director of the ] and a Senior Associate at the ] at ], asserts that Berezovsky is "consumed by greed and very short tempered. He is not the type of person that most people would want as a friend."<ref name="al-ahram"/> Mark Kramer, Director of the ] and a Senior Associate at the ] at ], asserts that Berezovsky is "consumed by greed and very short tempered. He is not the type of person that most people would want as a friend."<ref name="al-ahram"/>
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==Allegations and convictions of criminal activity== ==Allegations and convictions of criminal activity==
===Crime accusations in Forbes article, murders of ] and ], interrogation by Russian police in 1995=== ===Crime accusations in Forbes article, murders of Paul Klebnikov and Vlad Listyev, interrogation by Russian police in 1995===
A 1996 ] magazine article titled ''] of ]?'',<ref name=Godfather>, ], December 30, 1996</ref> by the Russian-American journalist ], portrayed Berezovsky as a ] boss who had his rivals murdered, and was involved in fraud, money laundering and had connections with Chechen mafia. In his article among other things Klebnikov accused Berezovsky of organizing murder of ], notorious Russian anchorman whose TV show was the first one to start openly criticizing communism ideology in 1988 and was the most popular by ratings in Russia even 7 years after. Berezovsky was interrogated by police and accepted the fact, that one day before ] was killed he passed US$100,000 to one of the mafia leaders known as Nikolai. Berezovsky acknowledged having passed the money to mafia, but said that he passed the money to Nikolay in order to find out who arranged an assassination attempt on himself a year ago (in 1994). Berezovsky had a great influence on Boris Yeltsin whom he indirectly sponsored by donating on publishing of his autobiography and establishing friendly relationships (often by indirectly sponsoring their activities) with most people who surrounded the president, including his daughter Tatyana Dyachenko (whom he may have earned hundreds of millions of dollars), and convinced Yeltsin that he was an innocent victim of someone else's plot. President support helped Berezovsky to stop criminal investigation against him. A 1996 ] magazine article titled ''] of ]?'',<ref name=Godfather>, ], 30 December 1996</ref> by the Russian-American journalist ], portrayed Berezovsky as a ] boss who had his rivals murdered, and was involved in fraud, money laundering and had connections with Chechen mafia. In his article among other things Klebnikov accused Berezovsky of organizing murder of ], notorious Russian anchorman whose TV show was the first one to start openly criticizing communism ideology in 1988 and was the most popular by ratings in Russia even 7 years after. Berezovsky was interrogated by police and accepted the fact, that one day before ] was killed he passed US$100,000 to one of the mafia leaders known as Nikolai. Berezovsky acknowledged having passed the money to mafia, but said that he passed the money to Nikolay in order to find out who arranged an assassination attempt on himself a year ago (in 1994). Berezovsky had a great influence on Boris Yeltsin whom he indirectly sponsored by donating on publishing of his autobiography and establishing friendly relationships (often by indirectly sponsoring their activities) with most people who surrounded the president, including his daughter Tatyana Dyachenko (whom he may have earned hundreds of millions of dollars), and convinced Yeltsin that he was an innocent victim of someone else's plot. Presidential support helped Berezovsky to stop criminal investigation against him.


A few months after the article in Forbes was published, Berezovsky sued the magazine for ] (in February 1997) in British court. In 2003 the court ruled that Forbes remove one statement from the article, as it didn't have enough evidence to support the claim that Berezovsky arranged murder of famous anchorman and TV producer ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael R. |last=Caputo |title=Same Old Ruthless Russia |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45364-2004Jul12.html |work=] |publisher=] |page=A15 |date=2004-07-13 |accessdate=2007-05-31}}</ref> The court didn't order Forbes to remove the rest of the article from the website nor acknowledge that all data contained in it was false, nor forced Forbes to pay a compensation, that Berezovsky wanted when filing his claim. The article is still available online on the Forbes website (with exception of one above mentioned statement).<ref name=Godfather/> Some media sources controlled by Berezovsky though, such as Kommersant magazine, reported, that Forbes "lost the case" and "completely retracted their claims against Berezovsky" which actually never happened. Berezovsky never contested in court the book "Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the looting of Russia" that Klebnikov published in 2000, which was a very extended version of the article. A few months after the article in Forbes was published, Berezovsky sued the magazine for ] (in February 1997) in British court. In 2003 the court ruled that Forbes remove one statement from the article, as it didn't have enough evidence to support the claim that Berezovsky arranged murder of famous anchorman and TV producer ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael R. |last=Caputo |title=Same Old Ruthless Russia |url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A45364-2004Jul12.html |work=The Washington Post |publisher=] |page=A15 |date=13 July 2004 |accessdate=31 May 2007}}</ref> The court didn't order Forbes to remove the rest of the article from the website nor acknowledge that all data contained in it was false, nor forced Forbes to pay a compensation, that Berezovsky wanted when filing his claim. The article is still available online on the Forbes website (with exception of one above mentioned statement).<ref name=Godfather/> Some media sources controlled by Berezovsky though, such as Kommersant magazine, reported, that Forbes "lost the case" and "completely retracted their claims against Berezovsky" which actually never happened. Berezovsky never contested in court the book "Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the looting of Russia" that Klebnikov published in 2000, which was a very extended version of the article.


On July 9, 2004, Klebnikov was attacked on a ] street late at night by unknown assailants who fired at least nine shots from a slowly moving car. Klebnikov was shot four times and initially survived, but he bled to death in the hospital because the ] took almost an hour to come, it had no ] bottle, and the hospital elevator that was taking him to the ] broke.<ref></ref> Before he died, Klebnikov described that there were 3 assasins in the car, and that he never met any of them before. The publisher of ''Forbes''' Russian edition has said that the murder is "definitely linked to his professional activity".<ref>, ] ], May 2007</ref> The paper speculated that a list of the 100 wealthiest Russians written by Klebnikov in May 2004 may have motivated the attack, though Klebnikov himself was most afraid of Boris Berezovsky according to his brother <ref name="Paul Klebnikov was killed by the hero of his book, Izvestia newspaper"></ref> On 9 July 2004, Klebnikov was attacked on a Moscow street late at night by unknown assailants who fired at least nine shots from a slowly moving car. Klebnikov was shot four times and initially survived, but he bled to death in the hospital because the ] took almost an hour to come, it had no ] bottle, and the hospital elevator that was taking him to the ] broke.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ricchiardi |first=Sherry |url=http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=4287 |title=Iron Curtain Redux |publisher=Ajr.org |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref> Before he died, Klebnikov described that there were 3 assassins in the car, and that he never met any of them before. The publisher of ''Forbes''' Russian edition has said that the murder is "definitely linked to his professional activity".<ref>, ] ], May 2007</ref> The paper speculated that a list of the 100 wealthiest Russians written by Klebnikov in May 2004 may have motivated the attack, though Klebnikov himself was most afraid of Boris Berezovsky according to his brother<ref name="Paul Klebnikov was killed by the hero of his book, Izvestia newspaper">{{cite web|url=http://www.izvestia.ru/incident/article1977610/ |title=Paul Klebnikov was killed by the hero of his book, Izvestia newspaper |publisher=Izvestia.ru |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref>


===Other early crime allegations in Russia by ] and ]=== ===Other early crime allegations in Russia by Alexander Lebed and Alexander Korzhakov===
On October 16, 1996 ], then Secretary of the Security Council, accused Boris Berezovsky and ] (another oligarch, a president of the MOST financial group, who was one of Berezovsky's main rivals at the time), of making up lists of persons slated for liquidation. At about the same time Alexander Korzhakov, former Chief of Russia President's Security Service, told journalists that Berezovsky had tried to talk him into assassinating ], Moscow Mayor ], singer and Duma deputy ], and others (Novy vzglyad newspaper, 19 October 1996).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scandaly.ru/print/news337.html |title=Трудовая Биография Б.Березовского |publisher=Scandaly.ru |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lebed.com/1997/art5.htm |title=Валерий Лебедев. Парадоксальный Березовский. N 1 от 10 февраля 1997 года |publisher=Lebed.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_9357.htm |title=Компромат.Ru: Березовский Борис // |publisher=Compromat.ru |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vsp.ru/23409/44-2-3.HTM |title="серый кардинал" XX века &#124; Восточно-Сибирская правда |publisher=Vsp.ru |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref name="guardian-psj.ru">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian-psj.ru/b-article-9 |title=Guardian &#124;&#124; Berezovsky, Boris Abramovich |publisher=Guardian-psj.ru |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> On 16 October 1996 ], then Secretary of the Security Council, accused Boris Berezovsky and ] (another oligarch, a president of the MOST financial group, who was one of Berezovsky's main rivals at the time), of making up lists of persons slated for liquidation. At about the same time Alexander Korzhakov, former Chief of Russia President's Security Service, told journalists that Berezovsky had tried to talk him into assassinating ], Moscow Mayor ], singer and Duma deputy ], and others (Novy vzglyad newspaper, 19 October 1996).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scandaly.ru/print/news337.html |title=Трудовая Биография Б.Березовского |publisher=Scandaly.ru |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lebed.com/1997/art5.htm |title=Валерий Лебедев. Парадоксальный Березовский. N 1 от 10 февраля 1997 года |publisher=Lebed.com |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_9357.htm |title=Компромат.Ru: Березовский Борис // |publisher=Compromat.ru |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vsp.ru/23409/44-2-3.HTM |title="серый кардинал" XX века , Восточно-Сибирская правда |publisher=Vsp.ru |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="guardian-psj.ru">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian-psj.ru/b-article-9 |title=Guardian ,, Berezovsky, Boris Abramovich |publisher=Guardian-psj.ru |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref>


===First probe and arrest warrant in Russia on money laundering in 1999, and start of criminal investigation in Switzerland=== ===First probe and arrest warrant in Russia on money laundering in 1999, and start of criminal investigation in Switzerland===
In 1999 after ] was appointed ], he started fighting corruption and initiated several criminal investigations. Among those was a probe on Berezovsky for fraud and money laundering in ] car manufacturer and ] airline. It may be worth mentioning that at that time ] was not playing a significant role in Russian politics. In 1999 after ] was appointed ], he started fighting corruption and initiated several criminal investigations. Among those was a probe on Berezovsky for fraud and money laundering in ] car manufacturer and Aeroflot airline. It may be worth mentioning that at that time ] was not playing a significant role in Russian politics.


On April 6, 1999 an arrest order in the name of Berezovsky was issued.<ref>{{cite web|last=Starobin |first=Paul |url=http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_30/b3691184.htm |title=Boris Berezovsky: Tycoon under Siege (int'l edition) |publisher=Businessweek.com |date=2000-07-24 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> (on the same day another arrest warrant has been issued against ]. He was charged with illegal business activities and money laundering). At the time Berezovsky was in Paris and commented, that the case was started by his political opponents and the allegations were false. The prosecutor general ] allowed him to enter the country and not to be arrested despite of the warrant. The arrest warrant was quashed by the mogul's allies in Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin, and on November 5, 1999 the charges were lifted and Berezovsky reclassified from accused person to witness. On 6 April 1999 an arrest order in the name of Berezovsky was issued.<ref>{{cite web|last=Starobin |first=Paul |url=http://www.businessweek.com/2000/00_30/b3691184.htm |title=Boris Berezovsky: Tycoon under Siege (int'l edition) |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=24 July 2000 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> (on the same day another arrest warrant has been issued against ]. He was charged with illegal business activities and money laundering). At the time Berezovsky was in Paris and commented, that the case was started by his political opponents and the allegations were false. The prosecutor general ] allowed him to enter the country and not to be arrested despite of the warrant. The arrest warrant was quashed by the mogul's allies in Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin, and on 5 November 1999 the charges were lifted and Berezovsky reclassified from accused person to witness.


At the same time several investigations have been started in Switzerland against Russians involved in fraud and money laundering. Among those was a case against Switzerland-Albanian construction firm ] which supposedly bribed ] (government official close to Yeltsin responsible for a lot of government property in Russia at that time). Swiss prosecutors also visited companies "Andava", "Forus" and a few others under control of Berezovsky. The bank accounts of Berezovsky, his partner in "Aeroflot" ] and a few other people were arrested with almost US$70 million frozen on them. At the end of summer the entry visa to Switzerland was rejected to Berezovsky.<ref>{{dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.forbes.com/global/1999/0322/0206020a_print.html |title=Magazine Article |publisher=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=13156 |title=The St. Petersburg Times - Business - The Russian National Airline Taking Off Into Friendlier Skies |publisher=Sptimes.ru |date=2000-11-07 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> The investigation against Berezovsky in Switzerland is still under way. Berezovsky has been investigated by the ] financial authorities for ] and membership of a criminal organization. In 2003, the Swiss Bundesanwaltschaft (General State Prosecutor) started a criminal case against Berezovsky and, amongst others, ], for money laundering through the Swiss firms Ovaco AG, situated at the Monbijoustrasse in ], and Anros SA in the ] World Trade Center.<ref>{{de icon}} , '']'', 09 December 2003</ref> Berezovsky claimed the proceedings were motivated by ].<ref name=s>, '']'', 15/03/2006</ref> In December 2006, as news broke of the death of ], the Bundesanwaltschaft announced that its investigations against Boris Berezovsky were still continuing. At the same time several investigations have been started in Switzerland against Russians involved in fraud and money laundering. Among those was a case against Switzerland-Albanian construction firm ] which supposedly bribed ] (government official close to Yeltsin responsible for a lot of government property in Russia at that time). Swiss prosecutors also visited companies "Andava", "Forus" and a few others under control of Berezovsky. The bank accounts of Berezovsky, his partner in "Aeroflot" ] and a few other people were arrested with almost US$70&nbsp;million frozen on them. At the end of summer the entry visa to Switzerland was rejected to Berezovsky.<ref>{{dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.forbes.com/global/1999/0322/0206020a_print.html |title=Magazine Article |work=Forbes |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=13156 |title=The St. Petersburg Times – Business – The Russian National Airline Taking Off Into Friendlier Skies |publisher=Sptimes.ru |date=7 November 2000 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> The investigation against Berezovsky in Switzerland is still under way. Berezovsky has been investigated by the ] financial authorities for ] and membership of a criminal organization. In 2003, the Swiss Bundesanwaltschaft (General State Prosecutor) started a criminal case against Berezovsky and, amongst others, ], for money laundering through the Swiss firms Ovaco AG, situated at the Monbijoustrasse in ], and Anros SA in the ] World Trade Center.<ref>{{de icon}} , '']'', 9 December 2003</ref> Berezovsky claimed the proceedings were motivated by ].<ref name=s>, '']'', 15/03/2006</ref> In December 2006, as news broke of the death of Alexander Litvinenko, the Bundesanwaltschaft announced that its investigations against Boris Berezovsky were still continuing.


The Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland on October 27, 2008 ruled to confiscate several million francs from bank accounts in Switzerland, one of whose beneficiaries was or is Berezovsky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.com/interview.asp?id=11563 |title=Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Justice: Switzerland is a wrong place for concealing or depositing illegal funds - Interview |publisher=Interfax.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> The Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland on 27 October 2008 ruled to confiscate several million francs from bank accounts in Switzerland, one of whose beneficiaries was or is Berezovsky.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.interfax.com/interview.asp?id=11563 |title=Director of the Swiss Federal Office of Justice: Switzerland is a wrong place for concealing or depositing illegal funds – Interview |publisher=Interfax.com |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref>


===Further criminal investigation and criminal convictions in Russia=== ===Further criminal investigation and criminal convictions in Russia===
On November 1, 2000 Russia's prosecutor general demanded that Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Gusinsky (at the moment outside of Russia) appeared before the court in Russia by November 13 with the threat of international arrest warrants and prison if they failed to show up. The general prosecutor office said it now had sufficient proof (in the case of Boris Berezovsky) to bring charges of large-scale theft in relation to alleged embezzlement from the state airline Aeroflot<ref>{{cite web|url=http://books.google.ru/books?id=D2KDf0UBUsoC&pg=PA563#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=The new Russia: a handbook of ... - Google йМХЦХ |publisher=Books.google.ru |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/852890.stm |title=EUROPE &#124; Swiss hand over Berezovsky papers |publisher=BBC News |date=2000-07-26 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> Berezovsky who was abroad, decided not to come back to Russia. On 1 November 2000 Russia's prosecutor general demanded that Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Gusinsky (at the moment outside of Russia) appeared before the court in Russia by 13 November with the threat of international arrest warrants and prison if they failed to show up. The general prosecutor office said it now had sufficient proof (in the case of Boris Berezovsky) to bring charges of large-scale theft in relation to alleged embezzlement from the state airline Aeroflot<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://books.google.ru/books?id=D2KDf0UBUsoC&pg=PA563#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=The new Russia: a handbook of ... – Google йМХЦХ |publisher=Books.google.ru |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/852890.stm |title=EUROPE , Swiss hand over Berezovsky papers |publisher=BBC News |date=26 July 2000 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> Berezovsky who was abroad, decided not to come back to Russia.


On September 20, 2001 Berezovsky was put on Russia's federal warrant list and charged in absentia with assisting fraud, hiding currency operations from Russian regulators and failing to sell on domestic market a part of foreign currency obtained from international trade as was required by currency regulation in Russia, and money laundering.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/23/news/mn-60506 |title=Warrant Is Issued for Berezovsky - Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=2001-10-23 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> On 20 September 2001 Berezovsky was put on Russia's federal warrant list and charged in absentia with assisting fraud, hiding currency operations from Russian regulators and failing to sell on domestic market a part of foreign currency obtained from international trade as was required by currency regulation in Russia, and money laundering.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2001/oct/23/news/mn-60506 |title=Warrant Is Issued for Berezovsky – Los Angeles Times |publisher=Articles.latimes.com |date=23 October 2001 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref>


On September 5, 2007, a trial in ] began in Moscow to examine allegations that Berezovsky had embezzled money from the Russian airline carrier Aeroflot in the 1990s.<ref name=r>, '']'', September 5, 2007</ref> On November 29, 2007, a Moscow court found Berezovsky guilty of massive ], and sentenced him to six years in jail. The court found that he had stolen 214 million roubles (nearly $9 million) from Aeroflot through fraud, and ordered him to repay it. Berezovsky called the verdict "a farce".<ref name=jail/> The judge described Berezovsky as part of an organized criminal group that included Aeroflot managers. On 5 September 2007, a trial in ] began in Moscow to examine allegations that Berezovsky had embezzled money from the Russian airline carrier Aeroflot in the 1990s.<ref name=r>, '']'', 5 September 2007</ref> On 29 November 2007, a Moscow court found Berezovsky guilty of massive ], and sentenced him to six years in jail. The court found that he had stolen 214 million roubles (nearly $9&nbsp;million) from Aeroflot through fraud, and ordered him to repay it. Berezovsky called the verdict "a farce".<ref name=jail/> The judge described Berezovsky as part of an organized criminal group that included Aeroflot managers.


On June 26, 2009, he was convicted in ] court on another charge of stealing 5,500 cars from ] in 1994 and sentenced in absentia to 13 years of imprisonment. His business associate ], who is also in exile in Great Britain, received a 9 years sentence. A fiction book "Bolshaya Paika", loosely based on Berezovsky and written by Dubov, which later served as basis for the movie ], was used as one of the pieces of evidence.<ref name=secondcharge>{{cite news|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?docsid=1279750|title=Thirteen-year oligarch|date=2009-06-27|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-12-07}}</ref> His appeal in the ] court was rejected on September 17, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.interfax.ru/society/news.asp?id=100947|title=Boris Berezovsky's conviction is now effective|date=2009-09-17|publisher=]|accessdate=2009-12-07}}</ref> On 26 June 2009, he was convicted in ] court on another charge of stealing 5,500 cars from AvtoVAZ in 1994 and sentenced in absentia to 13 years of imprisonment. His business associate ], who is also in exile in Great Britain, received a 9 years sentence. A fiction book "Bolshaya Paika", loosely based on Berezovsky and written by Dubov, which later served as basis for the movie ], was used as one of the pieces of evidence.<ref name=secondcharge>{{cite news|url=http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?docsid=1279750|title=Thirteen-year oligarch|date=27 June 2009|publisher=]|accessdate=7 December 2009}}</ref> His appeal in the ] court was rejected on 17 September 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.interfax.ru/society/news.asp?id=100947|title=Boris Berezovsky's conviction is now effective|date=17 September 2009|publisher=]|accessdate=7 December 2009}}</ref>


===Allegations by ]=== ===Allegations by Mikhail Fridman===
On 28 October 2004 in a popular show «To the barrier» on NTV Russian TV channel a shareholder and CEO of ] ], was invited as a guest and was facing Andrey Vasiliev, then general director of Kommersant Publishing House, the leading source for business news in Russia at the time. In the course of the heated debates, Fridman claimed he was willing to give a loan to Kommersant minors in 1999 so that they could buy out the Publishing House from its principal owner Vladimir Yakovlev. Berezovsky, Fridman claimed, who was himself eyeing Kommersant, was “extremely displeased” and “threatening” when calling him. “Berezovsky was threatening me. In general, he was threatening everybody,” Fridman said the key phrase of the suit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p673468/r_500/Berezovsky_Summons_Fridman_to_Court/ |title=Berezovsky Summons Fridman to Court - Kommersant Moscow |publisher=Kommersant.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.rian.ru/world/20060526/48679705.html |title=Tycoon Berezovsky wins slander suit vs. Alfa head in London &#124; World &#124; RIA Novosti |publisher=En.rian.ru |date=2006-05-26 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> On March 31, 2005 Berezovsky submitted a claim to High Court of England to Mihkail Fridman for libel and asked for compensation. Since Mikhail Fridman was unable to provide any proof that Berezovsky threatened him, on May 26 2006 the jury ordered Fridman to pay Berezovsky GBP50,000. On 28 October 2004 in a popular show «To the barrier» on NTV Russian TV channel a shareholder and CEO of ] ], was invited as a guest and was facing Andrey Vasiliev, then general director of Kommersant Publishing House, the leading source for business news in Russia at the time. In the course of the heated debates, Fridman claimed he was willing to give a loan to Kommersant minors in 1999 so that they could buy out the Publishing House from its principal owner Vladimir Yakovlev. Berezovsky, Fridman claimed, who was himself eyeing Kommersant, was “extremely displeased” and “threatening” when calling him. “Berezovsky was threatening me. In general, he was threatening everybody,” Fridman said the key phrase of the suit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p673468/r_500/Berezovsky_Summons_Fridman_to_Court/ |title=Berezovsky Summons Fridman to Court – Kommersant Moscow |publisher=Kommersant.com |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.rian.ru/world/20060526/48679705.html |title=Tycoon Berezovsky wins slander suit vs. Alfa head in London , World , RIA Novosti |publisher=En.rian.ru |date=26 May 2006 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref> On 31 March 2005 Berezovsky submitted a claim to High Court of England to Mihkail Fridman for libel and asked for compensation. Since Mikhail Fridman was unable to provide any proof that Berezovsky threatened him, on 26 May 2006 the jury ordered Fridman to pay Berezovsky GBP50,000.


===Criminal probe and arrest warrant in Brazil=== ===Criminal probe and arrest warrant in Brazil===
In May 2006 Berezovsky was detained for several hours in San Paolo airport and questioned about Media Sports Investment (MSI) group financial violations, which was a sponsor of the national Corinthians football club, local media reported. He was later allowed to leave the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.trend.az/news/world/wnews/956262.html |title=Trend News: Brazil issues arrest warrant for Berezovsky |publisher=En.trend.az |date=2007-07-13 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> In May 2006 Berezovsky was detained for several hours in ] airport and questioned about Media Sports Investment (MSI) group financial violations, which was a sponsor of the national Corinthians football club, local media reported. He was later allowed to leave the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.trend.az/news/world/wnews/956262.html |title=Trend News: Brazil issues arrest warrant for Berezovsky |publisher=En.trend.az |date=13 July 2007 |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref>


On July 12, 2007, a ]ian judge issued an arrest warrant for Berezovsky and a number of other British and Brazilian suspects in connection with an investigation against the Media Sports Investments group, which is suspected of money laundering.Berezovsky is accused of being the main financial backer of MSI. Since Berezovsky, ]ian-born ] and ] were not in Brazil at the time, warrants for their arrest were forwarded to ]. Berezovsky claimed that the Brazilian investigation was a part of the Kremlin's "politicized campaign" against him. Sao Paulo court demanded the detention of Mr Berezovsky and his associates over accusations that money had been laundered through the city's Corinthians football club. The order came after a two-year investigation into large quantities of cash allegedly pumped into the club by an investment group fronted by Mr Berezovsky's long-time associate, the Iranian-born businessman, Kia Joorabchian. A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Mr Joorabchian, who allegedly oversaw the transfer of Carlos Tevez, an Argentinian football star, from the Corinthians to West Ham United. In the summary of a 15-page report released after the investigation, the Brazilian prosecutor Mr Carneiro said: "There is enough circumstantial evidence indicating that the MSI-Corinthians partnership is being used for the laundering of money, most of which was received from Boris Berezovsky, who is wanted (by Russian authorities) for crimes committed against the Russian financial system."<ref>{{cite web|last=Blomfield |first=Adrian |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1557438/Brazilian-judge-orders-the-arrest-of-Berezovsky.html |title=Brazilian judge orders the arrest of Berezovsky |publisher=Telegraph |date=2007-07-14 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>, '']'', July 13, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-468161/Brazil-issues-arrest-warrant-Berezovsky-money-laundering-charges.html |title=Brazil issues arrest warrant for Berezovsky on money-laundering charges &#124; Mail Online |publisher=Dailymail.co.uk |date=2007-07-16 |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref name=b>, ], July 13, 2007</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p-10999/r_500/Berezovsky_Brazil_Arrest/ |title=Brazilian Court Orders to Arrest Berezovsky - Kommersant Moscow |publisher=Kommersant.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro and Saeed Shah |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/14/brazil.russia |title=Berezovsky wanted in Brazil for alleged money laundering &#124; World news |publisher=The Guardian |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/13/brazil.russia |title=Brazilian court seeks Berezovsky's arrest &#124; World news &#124; guardian.co.uk |publisher=Guardian |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> On 12 July 2007, a ]ian judge issued an arrest warrant for Berezovsky and a number of other British and Brazilian suspects in connection with an investigation against the Media Sports Investments group, which is suspected of money laundering. Berezovsky is accused of being the main financial backer of MSI. Since Berezovsky, ]ian-born ] and ] were not in Brazil at the time, warrants for their arrest were forwarded to ]. Berezovsky claimed that the Brazilian investigation was a part of the Kremlin's "politicized campaign" against him. São Paulo court demanded the detention of Mr Berezovsky and his associates over accusations that money had been laundered through the city's Corinthians football club. The order came after a two-year investigation into large quantities of cash allegedly pumped into the club by an investment group fronted by Mr Berezovsky's long-time associate, the Iranian-born businessman, Kia Joorabchian. A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Mr Joorabchian, who allegedly oversaw the transfer of Carlos Tevez, an Argentinian football star, from the Corinthians to West Ham United. In the summary of a 15-page report released after the investigation, the Brazilian prosecutor Mr Carneiro said: "There is enough circumstantial evidence indicating that the MSI-Corinthians partnership is being used for the laundering of money, most of which was received from Boris Berezovsky, who is wanted (by Russian authorities) for crimes committed against the Russian financial system."<ref name=b>, ], 13 July 2007</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Blomfield |first=Adrian |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1557438/Brazilian-judge-orders-the-arrest-of-Berezovsky.html |title=Brazilian judge orders the arrest of Berezovsky |publisher=Telegraph |date=14 July 2007 |accessdate=11 June 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref>, '']'', 13 July 2007</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-468161/Brazil-issues-arrest-warrant-Berezovsky-money-laundering-charges.html |title=Brazil issues arrest warrant for Berezovsky on money-laundering charges , Mail Online |work=The Daily Mail |location=UK |date=16 July 2007 |accessdate=11 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p-10999/r_500/Berezovsky_Brazil_Arrest/ |title=Brazilian Court Orders to Arrest Berezovsky – Kommersant Moscow |publisher=Kommersant.com |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Phillips in Rio de Janeiro and Saeed Shah |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/14/brazil.russia |title=Berezovsky wanted in Brazil for alleged money laundering , World news |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date= 14 July 2007|accessdate=11 June 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/jul/13/brazil.russia |title=Brazilian court seeks Berezovsky's arrest , World news , guardian.co.uk |work=Guardian |location=UK |date= 13 July 2007|accessdate=11 June 2010 }}</ref>


===Investigation in Netherlands=== ===Investigation in Netherlands===
In August 2007, the Russian Deputy Prosecutor General announced that the ] tax police had visited Moscow in connection with a ] and money laundering case involving Berezovsky. As Russian media were claiming<ref>, '']'', August 29, 2007</ref> that a criminal case had been initiated against Berezovsky in the Netherlands on a charge of money laundering, the Dutch prosecuting office or Openbaar Ministerie hastened to announce that he was not the object of any criminal investigation in the Netherlands, while Berezovsky himself responded by saying that he had no business in the Netherlands. Several Dutch newspapers counterclaimed that the name Boris Berezovsky was in fact mentioned in the handling and money laundering dossier,<ref>, '']'', August 30, 2007</ref> to which the Dutch prosecution officers in function refused to comment. In August 2007, the Russian Deputy Prosecutor General announced that the Dutch tax police had visited Moscow in connection with a ] and money laundering case involving Berezovsky. As Russian media were claiming<ref>, '']'', 29 August 2007</ref> that a criminal case had been initiated against Berezovsky in the Netherlands on a charge of money laundering, the Dutch prosecuting office or Openbaar Ministerie hastened to announce that he was not the object of any criminal investigation in the Netherlands, while Berezovsky himself responded by saying that he had no business in the Netherlands. Several Dutch newspapers counterclaimed that the name Boris Berezovsky was in fact mentioned in the handling and money laundering dossier,<ref>, '']'', 30 August 2007</ref> to which the Dutch prosecution officers in function refused to comment.


===Search in Berezovsky's castle in France=== ===Search in Berezovsky's castle in France===
On May 11, 2005 French Central Office for Fighting Major Financial Crime (OCRGDF) searched Cote d’-Azur castle of Berezovsky. The castle was searched in the course of investigation of Berezovsky’s suspected involvement in money laundering, AFP reported referring to the sources close to investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commersant.com/p576777/r_500/OCRGDF_Searches_French_Castle_of_Berezovsky/ |title=OCRGDF Searches French Castle of Berezovsky - Kommersant Moscow |publisher=Commersant.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref> On 11 May 2005 French Central Office for Fighting Major Financial Crime (OCRGDF) searched Cote d’-Azur castle of Berezovsky. The castle was searched in the course of investigation of Berezovsky’s suspected involvement in money laundering, AFP reported referring to the sources close to investigation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commersant.com/p576777/r_500/OCRGDF_Searches_French_Castle_of_Berezovsky/ |title=OCRGDF Searches French Castle of Berezovsky – Kommersant Moscow |publisher=Commersant.com |accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref>


==Allegations of funding terrorism== ==Allegations of funding terrorism==
There were persistent reports of Berezovsky sponsoring terrorists in Chechnya. In an interview to Forbes magazine Ichkeria's President Aslan Maskhadov referred to Boris Berezovsky as one of the persons most responsible for the war in the Caucasus.<ref>{{cite web|author=Paul Klebnikov, 11.01.99 |url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/1101/6411090a.html |title=Conflagration in Russia |publisher=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-11}}</ref><ref name="guardian-psj.ru"/> There were persistent reports of Berezovsky sponsoring terrorists in Chechnya. In an interview to ], ]'s President Aslan Maskhadov referred to Boris Berezovsky as one of the persons most responsible for the war in the ].<ref name="guardian-psj.ru"/><ref>{{cite news|author=Paul Klebnikov, 11.01.99 |url=http://www.forbes.com/forbes/1999/1101/6411090a.html |title=Conflagration in Russia |work=Forbes |date= 11 January 1999|accessdate=11 June 2010}}</ref>


Yusup Soslambekov, chairman of the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus, regarded Berezovsky as his personal enemy and threatened to disclose evidence of Berezovsky's involvement with certain Chechen warlords whom he hired to help him in his shady dealings with Chechnya's oil, drug trafficking, hostage-taking and similar pursuits. Soon after Yusup Soslambekov fell victim to a contract killing in Moscow. Even before that Akmal Saidov, who had also unearthed facts about Berezovsky's criminal activities in the Caucasus, was kidnapped; his body was later found.<ref name="guardian-psj.ru"/> Yusup Soslambekov, chairman of the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus, regarded Berezovsky as his personal enemy and threatened to disclose evidence of Berezovsky's involvement with certain Chechen warlords whom he hired to help him in his shady dealings with Chechnya's oil, drug trafficking, ] and similar pursuits. Soon after Yusup Soslambekov fell victim to a ] in Moscow. Even before that Akmal Saidov, who had also unearthed facts about Berezovsky's criminal activities in the Caucasus, was kidnapped; his body was later found.<ref name="guardian-psj.ru"/>


According to Chechen President ], Boris Berezovsky encouraged Chechen warlords Shamil Basayev and Salman Raduyev to kidnap people so that Berezovsky could finance them by paying ransoms. Kadyrov said he personally witnessed the agreement. "He couldn’t just give money to the militants, so he invented this mechanism. In my presence, Berezovsky suggested to Raduev and Basaev: ‘Capture people and I’ll ransom them. I’ll get good publicity and you’ll get money.’ He paid millions of dollars to Basaev", ] said in an interview with ] in April, 2009.<ref name="kadyrov"></ref> Kadyrov also said he believed Berezovsky was behind the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.<ref name="kadyrov"/> According to Chechen President ], Boris Berezovsky encouraged Chechen warlords Shamil Basayev and Salman Raduyev to kidnap people so that Berezovsky could finance them by paying ransoms. Kadyrov said he personally witnessed the agreement. "He couldn’t just give money to the militants, so he invented this mechanism. In my presence, Berezovsky suggested to Raduev and Basaev: ‘Capture people and I’ll ransom them. I’ll get good publicity and you’ll get money.’ He paid millions of dollars to Basaev", ] said in an interview with ] in April 2009.<ref name="kadyrov">{{cite web|url=http://www.russiatoday.com/Politics/2009-04-07/Berezovsky_financed_terrorists_by_paying_ransoms___Chechen_prez.html |title=Berezovsky financed terrorists by paying ransoms – Chechen prez |publisher=Russiatoday.com |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref> Kadyrov also said he believed Berezovsky was behind the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.<ref name="kadyrov"/>


In early 2009, former Chechen separatist ], and brother of the notorious Chechen separatist field commander ], who was killed in 2001, referred to Berezovsky as "the extremists' bread winner".<ref name="switch"> ] Retrieved on July 23, 2009</ref> In early 2009, former Chechen separatist ], and brother of the notorious Chechen separatist field commander ], who was killed in 2001, referred to Berezovsky as "the extremists' bread winner".<ref name="switch"> ] Retrieved on 23 July 2009</ref>


Berezovsky said that he had a conversation with the Chechen ] leader ] in 1999, six months before the beginning of ].<ref name="Dissident">], with ] '']'', The Free Press, 2007, ISBN 1-416-55165-4, page 216.</ref> A transcript of the phone conversation between Berezovsky and Udugov was leaked to one of Moscow tabloids on September 10, 1999.<ref>"Death of a Dissident", page 189.</ref> Udugov proposed to start the Dagestan war to provoke the Russian response, topple the Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov and establish a new Islamic republic of Basayev-Udugov that would be friendly to Russia. Berezovsky asserted that he refused the offer, but "Udugov and Basayev conspired with ] and Putin to provoke a war to topple Maskhadov ... but the agreement was for the Russian army to stop at the ]. However, Putin double-crossed the Chechens and started an all-out war."<ref name="Dissident"/> Berezovsky said that he had a conversation with the Chechen ] leader ] in 1999, six months before the beginning of ].<ref name="Dissident">Alex Goldfarb, with ] '']'', The Free Press, 2007, ISBN 1-4165-5165-4, page 216.</ref> A transcript of the phone conversation between Berezovsky and Udugov was leaked to one of Moscow tabloids on 10 September 1999.<ref>"Death of a Dissident", page 189.</ref> Udugov proposed to start the Dagestan war to provoke the Russian response, topple the Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov and establish a new Islamic republic of Basayev-Udugov that would be friendly to Russia. Berezovsky asserted that he refused the offer, but "Udugov and Basayev conspired with ] and Putin to provoke a war to topple Maskhadov ... but the agreement was for the Russian army to stop at the ]. However, Putin double-crossed the Chechens and started an all-out war."<ref name="Dissident"/>


==Exile in Britain== ==Exile in Britain==
In 1999 Russia opened investigations into Berezovsky's business activities. Fearing arrest, Berezovsky fled to London in 2001, where he was granted ], which infuriated the Russian authorities. He has been charged with ] and ], but British courts have rejected all three attempts to get him extradited to Russia.<ref name=time>]'', February 8, 2007</ref> From his new home in the U.K., he has strongly criticized the current Russian administration. In 1999 Russia opened investigations into Berezovsky's business activities. Fearing arrest, Berezovsky fled to London in 2001, where he was granted ], which infuriated the Russian authorities. He has been charged with ] and ], but British courts have rejected all three attempts to get him extradited to Russia.<ref name=time>]'', 8 February 2007</ref> From his new home in the U.K., he has strongly criticized the current Russian administration.


In 2003 Boris Berezovsky formally changed his name to Platon Elenin ("Platon" being ] for ], and Elena is the name of his wife) in the British courts. No reason has been given - but Platon is the name of the lead character in a film '']'' based on his life. In December 2003 he was allowed to travel under his new name to ], provoking a row between Russia and Georgia. In 2003 Boris Berezovsky formally changed his name to Platon Elenin ("Platon" being Russian for ], and Elena is the name of his wife) in the British courts. No reason has been given – but Platon is the name of the lead character in a film '']'' based on his life. In December 2003 he was allowed to travel under his new name to ], provoking a row between Russia and Georgia.


In recent years, Berezovsky has gone into business with ], the younger brother of the ] ]. Berezovsky has been an investor in Bush's ], an educational software corporation, since at least 2003. In 2005, Neil Bush met with Berezovsky in ], causing tension with Russia due to Berezovsky's ] status.<ref>, '']'', Sep 23, 2005</ref> Neil Bush has also been seen in Berezovsky's box at the ], the home of British football club ], for a game.<ref>, '']'', September 5, 2006</ref> There has been speculations that the relationship may cause tension in Russo-American bilateral relations.<ref>, '']'', October 06, 2005</ref> In recent years, Berezovsky has gone into business with ], the younger brother of former ] ]. Berezovsky has been an investor in Bush's ], an educational software corporation, since at least 2003. In 2005, Neil Bush met with Berezovsky in ], causing tension with Russia due to Berezovsky's ] status.<ref>, ''Times'', 23 Sep 2005</ref> Neil Bush has also been seen in Berezovsky's box at the ], the home of British football club ], for a game.<ref>, '']'', 5 September 2006</ref> There has been speculations that the relationship may cause tension in Russo-American bilateral relations.<ref>, '']'', 6 October 2005</ref>


It has been reported that Berezovsky's funds may have depleted rapidly with the onset of the ].<ref></ref> It may well be true as Berezovsky never proved his ability to manage any assets and was always best at just taking companies' cashflows under control by liaising with the senior management and making those firms which did not formally belong to him his cash cows.<ref name="dermokratizatsiya2003"/> It has been reported that Berezovsky's funds may have depleted rapidly with the onset of the ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Oliphant |first=Roland |url=http://www.russiaprofile.org/page.php?pageid=Politics&articleid=a1248887565 |title=A Never-Ending War |publisher=Russiaprofile.org |date=29 July 2009 |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref> It may well be true as Berezovsky never proved his ability to manage any assets and was always best at just taking companies' cashflows under control by liaising with the senior management and making those firms which did not formally belong to him his cash cows.<ref name="dermokratizatsiya2003"/>


On February 19, 2009, ] quoted another former Chechen separatist leader who switched sides, ], as accusing Berezovsky of financing the First ] of the ] ], ], as well as the late separatist warlord ], and of broadcasting "] ideas." He alleged that Berezovsky had financed "illegal armed unit" leaders "under the guise of paying ransoms for hostages" as well as the Kavkaz television channel, which he referred to as a "Wahhabi mouthpiece."<ref name="switch"/> Khambiyev also alleged that Berezovsky "personally" handed Basaev $1 million upon arriving in ] after the first Chechen military campaign. He was quoted as saying ''"I asked Basayev why Berezovsky had given the money and why Basaev accepted it. He answered that Berezovsky was afraid of him and therefore paid the money"''. Khambiyev said that it later turned out that Berezovsky had actually given Basayev $2 million while in Ingushetia.<ref name="switch"/> On 19 February 2009, ] quoted another former Chechen separatist leader who switched sides, ], as accusing Berezovsky of financing the First ] of the ] ], ], as well as the late separatist warlord ], and of broadcasting "] ideas." He alleged that Berezovsky had financed "illegal armed unit" leaders "under the guise of paying ransoms for hostages" as well as the Kavkaz television channel, which he referred to as a "Wahhabi mouthpiece."<ref name="switch"/> Khambiyev also alleged that Berezovsky "personally" handed Basaev $1&nbsp;million upon arriving in ] after the first Chechen military campaign. He was quoted as saying ''"I asked Basayev why Berezovsky had given the money and why Basaev accepted it. He answered that Berezovsky was afraid of him and therefore paid the money"''. Khambiyev said that it later turned out that Berezovsky had actually given Basayev $2&nbsp;million while in Ingushetia.<ref name="switch"/>


==Berezovsky's exile statements== ==Berezovsky's exile statements==
===Appeals for regime change=== ===Appeals for regime change===
In September 2005, Berezovsky said in an interview with the ]: "I'm sure that Putin doesn't have the chance to survive, even to the ]. I am doing everything in my power to limit his time frame, and I am really thinking of returning to Russia after Putin collapses, which he will."<ref name=los> ] Retrieved on April 5, 2008</ref> In January 2006, Berezovsky stated in an interview to a Moscow-based radio station that he was working on overthrowing the administration of Vladimir Putin by force.<ref>{{ru icon}} , ], 25.01.2006</ref> Berezovsky has also publicly accused Putin of being "a ]"<ref>, '']'', September 4, 2008</ref> and the "terrorist number one".<ref></ref> In September 2005, Berezovsky said in an interview with the ]: "I'm sure that Putin doesn't have the chance to survive, even to the ]. I am doing everything in my power to limit his time frame, and I am really thinking of returning to Russia after Putin collapses, which he will."<ref name=los> ] Retrieved on 5 April 2008</ref> In January 2006, Berezovsky stated in an interview to a Moscow-based radio station that he was working on overthrowing the administration of Vladimir Putin by force.<ref>{{ru icon}} , ], 25.01.2006</ref> Berezovsky has also publicly accused Putin of being "a ]"<ref>, '']'', 4 September 2008</ref> and the "terrorist number one".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1540-5842.2005.00730.x |title=Putin Is Terrorist Number One |publisher=Blackwell-synergy.com |date=14 February 2005 |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref>


On April 13, 2007, in an interview with the British newspaper '']'', Berezovsky declared that he is plotting the violent overthrow of President Putin by financing and encouraging coup plotters in Moscow: "We need to use force to change this regime. It isn't possible to change this regime through democratic means. There can be no change without force, pressure."'<ref>, '']'', April 13, 2007</ref> He also admitted that during the last six years he struggled much to "destroy the positive image of Putin" and said that "Putin has created an ] against the ].... I don't know how it will happen, but authoritarian regimes only collapse by force."<ref>, ], April 13, 2007</ref> Berezovsky said he had dedicated much of the last six years to "trying to destroy the positive image of Putin" that many in the west held, portraying him whenever possible as a dangerously anti-democratic figure.<ref name="plotting"/> On 13 April 2007, in an interview with the British newspaper '']'', Berezovsky declared that he is plotting the violent overthrow of President Putin by financing and encouraging coup plotters in Moscow: "We need to use force to change this regime. It isn't possible to change this regime through democratic means. There can be no change without force, pressure."'<ref>, '']'', 13 April 2007</ref> He also admitted that during the last six years he struggled much to "destroy the positive image of Putin" and said that "Putin has created an ] against the ].... I don't know how it will happen, but authoritarian regimes only collapse by force."<ref>, ], 13 April 2007</ref> Berezovsky said he had dedicated much of the last six years to "trying to destroy the positive image of Putin" that many in the west held, portraying him whenever possible as a dangerously anti-democratic figure.<ref name="plotting"/>


] in ]; The Other Russia organizers said that this slogan was a ] carried out by pro-government youth groups<ref>{{ru icon}} </ref>]] ] in ]; The Other Russia organizers said that this slogan was a ] carried out by pro-government youth groups<ref>{{ru icon}} </ref>]]


Soon after Berezovsky's 2007 statement, ], an important leader of the opposition movement ] and leader of the ], wrote the following on his website: "Berezovsky has lived in emigration for many years and no longer has significant influence upon the political processes which take place in Russian society. His extravagant proclamations are simply a method of attracting attention. Furthermore, for the overwhelming majority of Russians he is a political symbol of the 90s, one of the "bad blokes" enriching themselves behind the back of president Yeltsin. The informational noise around Berezovsky is specifically beneficial for the Kremlin, which is trying to compromise Russia's real opposition. Berezovsky has not had and does not have any relation to Other Russia or the United Civil Front."<ref>{{ru icon}} , ], 18.04.2007</ref></blockquote> Berezovsky responded in June 2007 by saying that "there is not one significant politician in Russia whom he has not financed" and that this included members of Other Russia. The managing director of the United Civil Front, in turn, said that the organization would consider suing Berezovsky over these allegations.<ref>, ], 28/ 06/ 2007</ref>, but the lawsuit has never been brought before the court. Soon after Berezovsky's 2007 statement, ], an important leader of the opposition movement ] and leader of the ], wrote the following on his website: "Berezovsky has lived in emigration for many years and no longer has significant influence upon the political processes which take place in Russian society. His extravagant proclamations are simply a method of attracting attention. Furthermore, for the overwhelming majority of Russians he is a political symbol of the 90s, one of the "bad blokes" enriching themselves behind the back of president Yeltsin. The informational noise around Berezovsky is specifically beneficial for the Kremlin, which is trying to compromise Russia's real opposition. Berezovsky has not had and does not have any relation to Other Russia or the United Civil Front."<ref>{{ru icon}} , ], 18.04.2007</ref></blockquote> Berezovsky responded in June 2007 by saying that "there is not one significant politician in Russia whom he has not financed" and that this included members of Other Russia. The managing director of the United Civil Front, in turn, said that the organization would consider suing Berezovsky over these allegations.,<ref>, ], 28/ 06/ 2007</ref> but the lawsuit has never been brought before the court.


The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has launched a criminal investigation against Berezovsky to find whether his comments can be considered a "seizure of power by force", as outlined in the ]. If convicted, an offender is facing up to 20 years of imprisonment. The ] denounced Berezovsky's statements, warning him that his status of a political refugee may be reconsidered, should he continue to make similar remarks. Furthermore, ] had announced that it would investigate whether Berezovsky's statements were in violation of the law.<ref>, '']'', April 14, 2007</ref><ref>, '']'', April 14, 2007</ref> However in the following July, the ] announced that Berezovsky would not face charges in the UK for his comments. Kremlin officials called it a "disturbing moment" in ].<ref>, '']'', March 20, 2008</ref> The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has launched a criminal investigation against Berezovsky to find whether his comments can be considered a "seizure of power by force", as outlined in the ]. If convicted, an offender is facing up to 20 years of imprisonment. The ] denounced Berezovsky's statements, warning him that his status of a political refugee may be reconsidered, should he continue to make similar remarks. Furthermore, ] had announced that it would investigate whether Berezovsky's statements were in violation of the law.<ref>, '']'', 14 April 2007</ref><ref>, '']'', 14 April 2007</ref> However in the following July, the ] announced that Berezovsky would not face charges in the UK for his comments. Kremlin officials called it a "disturbing moment" in ].<ref>, '']'', 20 March 2008</ref>


==Alleged assassination attempts in London== ==Alleged assassination attempts in London==
===Alleged 2003 plot=== ===Alleged 2003 plot===
According to ], a Russian ] (SVR) agent in London was making preparations to assassinate Berezovsky with a ] in September 2003. This alleged plot was reported to British police.<ref name="dissident">] and Marina Litvinenko. '']: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB'', The Free Press (2007) ISBN 1-416-55165-4</ref> ], then a ] Minister, said that inquiries made were "unable to either substantiate this information or find evidence of any criminal offences having been committed".<ref>, ], 13 Jan 2004</ref> Berezovsky in turn later accused Putin of ordering the deadly ].<ref>, '']'', 19/11/2006</ref> According to Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian ] (SVR) agent in London was making preparations to assassinate Berezovsky with a ] in September 2003. This alleged plot was reported to British police.<ref name="dissident">Alex Goldfarb and Marina Litvinenko. '']: The Poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko and the Return of the KGB'', The Free Press (2007) ISBN 1-4165-5165-4</ref> ], then a ] Minister, said that inquiries made were "unable to either substantiate this information or find evidence of any criminal offences having been committed".<ref>, ], 13 Jan 2004</ref> Berezovsky in turn later accused Putin of ordering the deadly ].<ref>, '']'', 19/11/2006</ref>


This was not the first alleged plot to murder Berezovsky that had been announced by Litvinenko. On November 17, 1998, during the period that Vladimir Putin was the ], five high-ranking officers of FSB's Directorate for the Analysis of Criminal Organisations appeared at a ] in the Russian ] news agency. The officers, including the then-] Litvinenko, accused the head of the Directorate and his deputy of ordering them to assassinate Boris Berezovsky and the FSB officer ] in November 1997. This was not the first alleged plot to murder Berezovsky that had been announced by Litvinenko. On 17 November 1998, during the period that Vladimir Putin was the ], five high-ranking officers of FSB's Directorate for the Analysis of Criminal Organisations appeared at a ] in the Russian ] news agency. The officers, including the then-] Litvinenko, accused the head of the Directorate and his deputy of ordering them to assassinate Boris Berezovsky and the FSB officer ] in November 1997.


===Alleged 2007 plot=== ===Alleged 2007 plot===
In June 2007 Berezovsky said he fled Britain on the advice of Scotland Yard, amid reports that he was the target of an assassination attempt by a suspected Russian ]. On July 18, 2007, British ] '']'' reported that the alleged would-be assassin was captured by the police at the ] in ].<ref name="foil">, '']'', July 18, 2007</ref><ref name=ooo>, ], 18 July 2007</ref> They reported that the suspect, arrested by the anti-terrorist police after being tracked for a week by ], was ] back to Russia when no weapons were found and there was not enough evidence to charge him with any offence.<ref>, '']'', 29 November 2007</ref> In addition, they said British police placed a squad of uniformed officers around the Chechen ] ]'s house in north London, and also phoned Litvinenko's widow, Marina, to urge her to take greater security precautions.<ref name=g>, '']'', July 22, 2007</ref> Russia's ] to the UK, ], said he was not aware of any such plot and told ]'s ] there was "nothing that could confirm" the plot, although British police did confirm that they had arrested a suspect in an alleged murder plot.<ref name="police"/> In June 2007 Berezovsky said he fled Britain on the advice of Scotland Yard, amid reports that he was the target of an assassination attempt by a suspected Russian ]. On 18 July 2007, British ] '']'' reported that the alleged would-be assassin was captured by the police at the ] in ].<ref name="foil">, '']'', 18 July 2007</ref><ref name=ooo>, ], 18 July 2007</ref> They reported that the suspect, arrested by the anti-terrorist police after being tracked for a week by ], was ] back to Russia when no weapons were found and there was not enough evidence to charge him with any offence.<ref>, '']'', 29 November 2007</ref> In addition, they said British police placed a squad of uniformed officers around the Chechen ] Akhmed Zakayev's house in north London, and also phoned Litvinenko's widow, Marina, to urge her to take greater security precautions.<ref name=g>, '']'', 22 July 2007</ref> Russia's ambassador to the UK, ], said he was not aware of any such plot and told ]'s ] there was "nothing that could confirm" the plot, although British police did confirm that they had arrested a suspect in an alleged murder plot.<ref name="police"/>


Berezovsky said he was told the assassin would be someone he knew, who would shoot him in the head and then surrender to the police. He again accused Vladimir Putin of being behind a plot to assassinate him.<ref>, '']'', 23/07/200</ref> The Kremlin has denied similar claims in the past.<ref name="police">, '']'', July 19, 2007</ref> According to '']'', there is speculation that Berezovsky leaked details of the alleged attempt to kill him to the media to antagonise Moscow, once the British authorities had returned the suspected hitman to Moscow. The timing of the story has also been seen as suspicious, coming in the middle of a row over Britain's attempts to charge a Russian businessman and former security agent, ], with Litvinenko's murder.<ref name=g/> Berezovsky said he was told the assassin would be someone he knew, who would shoot him in the head and then surrender to the police. He again accused Vladimir Putin of being behind a plot to assassinate him.<ref>, '']'', 23/07/200</ref> The Kremlin has denied similar claims in the past.<ref name="police">, '']'', 19 July 2007</ref> According to '']'', there is speculation that Berezovsky leaked details of the alleged attempt to kill him to the media to antagonise Moscow, once the British authorities had returned the suspected hitman to Moscow. The timing of the story has also been seen as suspicious, coming in the middle of a row over Britain's attempts to charge a Russian businessman and former security agent, ], with Litvinenko's murder.<ref name=g/>


According to the interview given by a high-ranking British security official to the ] in July 2008, the alleged Russian agent, known as "A", was of a Chechen nationality.<ref>{{pl icon}} , ], 08.07.2008</ref> He was identified by ''Kommersant'' as the Chechen ] ]; after returning to Russia, Atlangeriyev ] in January 2008 by the unknown men in Moscow.<ref>, '']'', July 09, 2008</ref> According to the interview given by a high-ranking British security official to the ] in July 2008, the alleged Russian agent, known as "A", was of a Chechen nationality.<ref>{{pl icon}} , ], 08.07.2008</ref> He was identified by ''Kommersant'' as the Chechen ] ]; after returning to Russia, Atlangeriyev ] in January 2008 by the unknown men in Moscow.<ref>, '']'', 9 July 2008</ref>


==Involvement in Alexander Litvinenko affair== ==Involvement in Alexander Litvinenko affair==
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{{Main|Alexander Litvinenko poisoning}} {{Main|Alexander Litvinenko poisoning}}


Many publications in Russian media suggested that the death of ] was connected to Berezovsky.<ref>{{cite web Many publications in Russian media suggested that the death of Alexander Litvinenko was connected to Berezovsky.<ref>{{cite web
| last = Weaver | last = Weaver
| first = John | first = John
| title = Mafia Hit On The Media | title = Mafia Hit On The Media
⚫ | publisher=Atlantic Free Press
| work =
⚫ | publisher = Atlantic Free Press
| date = 24 November 2006 | date = 24 November 2006
| url = http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/262/ | url = http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/262/
| accessdate = 2006-11-26 }}</ref><ref>{{ru icon}}{{cite web | accessdate =26 November 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{ru icon}}{{cite web
| last = Alexeev | last = Alexeev
| first = Petr | first = Petr
| title = Politkovskaya, Litvinenko, who is next? | title = Politkovskaya, Litvinenko, who is next?
⚫ | publisher=Electorat. Info
| work =
⚫ | publisher = Electorat. Info
| date = 24 November 2006 | date = 24 November 2006
| url = http://www.electorat.info/oligarx/22196-1/ | url = http://www.electorat.info/oligarx/22196-1/
| accessdate = 2006-11-26 }}</ref> Former FSB chief ], for whom Litvinenko worked, said that the incident "looks like the hand of Berezovsky. I am sure that no kind of ] participated."<ref>{{ru icon}}{{cite web | accessdate =26 November 2006 }}</ref> Former FSB chief ], for whom Litvinenko worked, said that the incident "looks like the hand of Berezovsky. I am sure that no kind of ] participated."<ref>{{ru icon}}{{cite web
| last =
| first = | first =
| title = Who orchestrated plan to discredit Russia? | title = Who orchestrated plan to discredit Russia?
⚫ | publisher=]
| work =
⚫ | publisher = ]
| date = 25 November 2006 | date = 25 November 2006
| url = http://www.kommersant.ru/doc-y.html?docId=724957&issueId=30261 | url = http://www.kommersant.ru/doc-y.html?docId=724957&issueId=30261
| accessdate = 2006-11-26 }}</ref> This involvement of Berezovsky was alleged by numerous Russian television shows. Kremlin supporters saw it as a conspiracy to smear Russian government's reputation by engineering a spectacular murder of a Russian dissident abroad.<ref name=wash> ] Retrieved on April 6, 2008</ref> | accessdate =26 November 2006 }}</ref> This involvement of Berezovsky was alleged by numerous Russian television shows. Kremlin supporters saw it as a conspiracy to smear Russian government's reputation by engineering a spectacular murder of a Russian dissident abroad.<ref name=wash> ] Retrieved on 6 April 2008</ref>


After Litvinenko's death, traces of ] were found in an office of Berezovsky.<ref name="Polonium 210">{{cite web After Litvinenko's death, traces of ] were found in an office of Berezovsky.<ref name="Polonium 210">{{cite web
Line 177: Line 175:
| first = Ben | first = Ben
| title = Polonium 210 found at Berezovsky's office | title = Polonium 210 found at Berezovsky's office
| work = | publisher=]
| publisher = ] | date = 28 November 2006
| date = November 28, 2006
| url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15923659/ | url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15923659/
| accessdate = 2006-12-01 }}</ref> Russian prosecutors were not allowed to investigate the office.<ref></ref> Russian authorities have also been unable to question Berezovsky. The Foreign Ministry complained that Britain was obstructing its attempt to send prosecutors to London to interview more than 100 people, including Berezovsky.<ref> ] Retrieved on April 6, 2008</ref> | accessdate =1 December 2006 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071026025104/http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15923659/ |archivedate = 26 October 2007}}</ref> Russian prosecutors were not allowed to investigate the office.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.russiatoday.com/Top_News/2007-07-23/Lugovoy_case_unsubstantial_Russian_prosecution.html |title=Lugovoy case unsubstantial: Russian prosecution |publisher=Russiatoday.com |accessdate=14 May 2011}}</ref> Russian authorities have also been unable to question Berezovsky. The Foreign Ministry complained that Britain was obstructing its attempt to send prosecutors to London to interview more than 100 people, including Berezovsky.<ref> ] Retrieved on 6 April 2008</ref>


==Alleged involvement in the 2004 Ukraine presidential election== ==Alleged involvement in the 2004 Ukraine presidential election==
In September 2005, soon after the ] led by prime minister ] was dismissed by president ], former president of Ukraine ] accused Berezovsky of financing Yushchenko's presidential election campaign, and provided copies of documents showing money transfers from companies he said are controlled by Berezovsky to companies controlled by Yuschenko's official backers. Berezovsky has confirmed that he met Yushchenko's representatives in London before the election, and that the money was transferred from his companies, but he refused to confirm or deny that the companies that received the money were used in Yushchenko's campaign. Financing of election campaigns by foreign citizens is illegal in Ukraine.<ref>{{ru icon}} , ], 15.09.2005</ref> In September 2007, Berezovsky launched ]s against two Ukrainian politicians, ], a former presidential aid, and ], a former emergencies minister.<ref>, ], September 3, 2007</ref> Berezovsky is suing the men for nearly US$23 million, accusing them of misusing the money he had allocated in 2004 to fund Ukraine's ]. In September 2005, soon after the ] led by prime minister ] was dismissed by president ], former president of Ukraine ] accused Berezovsky of financing Yushchenko's presidential election campaign, and provided copies of documents showing money transfers from companies he said are controlled by Berezovsky to companies controlled by Yuschenko's official backers. Berezovsky has confirmed that he met Yushchenko's representatives in London before the election, and that the money was transferred from his companies, but he refused to confirm or deny that the companies that received the money were used in Yushchenko's campaign. Financing of election campaigns by foreign citizens is illegal in Ukraine.<ref>{{ru icon}} , ], 15.09.2005</ref> In September 2007, Berezovsky launched ]s against two Ukrainian politicians, ], a former presidential aid, and ], a former emergencies minister.<ref>, ], 3 September 2007</ref> Berezovsky is suing the men for nearly US$23&nbsp;million, accusing them of misusing the money he had allocated in 2004 to fund Ukraine's ].


===2010 Ukraine presidential election=== ===2010 Ukraine presidential election===
Berezovsky called on the Ukrainian business to support Yushchenko at the ] of January 2010 as a guarantor of debarment of property redistribution after the election.<ref name=welcome>, ] (December 10, 2009)</ref> Berezovsky called on the Ukrainian business to support Yushchenko at the ] of January 2010 as a guarantor of debarment of property redistribution after the election.<ref name=welcome>, ] (10 December 2009)</ref>


On December 10, 2009 the ] ] stated that if the ] would request it Berezovsky would be detained after arriving in Ukraine.<ref name=welcome/> On 10 December 2009 the ] ] stated that if the ] would request it Berezovsky would be detained after arriving in Ukraine.<ref name=welcome/>


==See also== ==See also==
*] - former business partner sued by Berezovsky for approximately $4 billion over the Sibneft share-and business blackmail affair. *] – former business partner sued by Berezovsky for approximately $4&nbsp;billion over the Sibneft share-and business blackmail affair.
*] - important intermediary between Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich who was reportedly paid $500 million by Abramovich for protecting him. *] – important intermediary between Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich who was reportedly paid $500&nbsp;million by Abramovich for protecting him.
*] *]
*] *]
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==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category|Boris Berezovsky (businessman)}}
⚫ * , '']'', Mar. 03, 1997
* , ], July 24, 2000 *
⚫ * , '']'', 3 Mar. 1997
* , ], 24 July 2000
* , ], October 2003 * , ], October 2003
* , ], 27 September 2005 * , ], 27 September 2005
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* at '']'' * at '']''


{{Start box}} {{S-start}}
{{Succession box|before=]|after=] (acting) |years= April 29, 1998 – March 4, 1999|title=Executive Secretary of ]}} {{Succession box|before=]|after=] (acting) |years= 29 April 1998 – 4 March 1999|title=Executive Secretary of ]}}
{{End box}} {{S-end}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->
| NAME =Berezovsky, Boris
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =23 January 1946
| PLACE OF BIRTH =Moscow, ]
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berezovsky, Boris}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Berezovsky, Boris}}
] ]
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Revision as of 21:29, 3 August 2011

Boris Berezovsky
Boris Berezovsky, 2007
Born (1946-01-23) 23 January 1946 (age 78)
Moscow, USSR

Boris Abramovich Berezovsky (Template:Lang-ru; also known as Platon Elenin; born 23 January 1946) is a Russian businessman, member of Russian Academy of Sciences, who was accused of numerous crimes in Russia and sentenced to several years of imprisonment in absentia. Despite the fact that arrest warrant has been issued to Interpol by Russian and Brazilian authorities, Berezovsky is currently a political refugee in Britain, which so far has refused repeated extradition requests from Russia.

He is best known for his role as a Russian oligarch, media tycoon and infamous politician during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin in the 1990s. He has been described by critics as the epitome of Russian "robber capitalism," but he denies having ever taken part in the violence and crime that tainted Russian business during that era. Berezovsky was at the height of his power in the later Yeltsin years, when he was deputy secretary of Russia's security council, a friend of Boris Yeltsin's daughter Tatyana Dyachenko, and a member of the Yeltsin inner circle, or "family".

Berezovsky made his fortune by capturing state assets at knockdown prices during Russia's rush towards privatisation in very questionable ways. He took ownership of the Sibneft oil company and became the main shareholder in the country's main television channel, ORT, which he turned into a propaganda vehicle for Boris Yeltsin in the run-up to the 1996 presidential election. It is said that, in contrast to Russian entrepreneurs such as Vladimir Gusinsky, Berezovsky did not enrich any of the enterprises with which he became involved or took over (e.g. Sibneft, ORT, the car dealership Avtovaz, Omsk Oil Refinery, National Sports Fund, and aluminum smelters Bratsk, Krasnoyarsk, and Novokuznetsk), but instead drained them of cash. Although he helped Vladimir Putin enter the "family", and funded the party that formed Putin's parliamentary base, Putin moved to regain control of the ORT television station and to curb the political ambitions of Russia's oligarchs, who were extremely unpopular with the Russian public. Many of Berezovsky's former business partners (Roman Abramovich) continue to play a key role in Russian economic life.

Following the ascent of Putin to the Russian presidency, Berezovsky went into opposition and fled the country after being accused of defrauding a regional government of US$13 million. He was later granted political asylum in the United Kingdom. He has since publicly stated that he is on a mission to bring down Putin "by force". In the UK, he became associated with Akhmed Zakayev, Alexander Litvinenko and Alex Goldfarb in what has become known as "the London Circle" of Russian exiles. He is a founder of International Foundation for Civil Liberties. According to Professor Richard Sakwa, Berezovsky's behaviour is always marked by audacity and cunning.

In 2007, a Moscow court found Berezovsky guilty of massive embezzlement in absentia. He was sentenced to six years in jail and ordered to repay the $9 million that the court said he had stolen from the state airline Aeroflot. He has also been accused by Russian authorities of being involved in the murders of several leading critics of the Putin's regime, including Litvinenko and journalist Anna Politkovskaya, in an attempt to destabilize the country and discredit Putin. In response, Berezovsky – amongst others – has attributed the killings to the Putin regime as a means of political intimidation. Arrest warrants for him have been issued in Russia and Brazil for allegations of fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering. Berezovsky has been under investigation by Swiss federal prosecutors for money laundering since 1999.

Berezovsky survived an assassination attempt in 1994 unharmed. Berezovsky claims that there have been several other assassination attempts directed against him, which he accuses Russian agents of carrying out.

Berezovsky has been married four times and has six children.

Early life and scientific research

Berezovsky was born in 1946 in Moscow to Abram Markovich Berezovsky, a Jewish civil engineer in construction works, and his wife Anna Gelman. He studied forestry and applied mathematics, receiving his doctorate in 1983. After graduating from the Moscow Forestry Engineering Institute in 1968, Berezovsky worked as an engineer, from 1969 till 1987 filling the positions of an assistant research officer, research officer and finally the head of a laboratory in the Institute of Control Sciences of the USSR Academy of Sciences. Berezovsky did research on decision making theory, publishing books and articles between 1975 and 1989.

Business career in Russia

The foundation of his fortune lay in an arrangement Berezovsky forged with the management of Avtovaz, the huge and ramshackle Russian car maker. In exchange for cutting senior management into the action, he was able to get cars straight off the assembly line for far less than the cost of production, which he then sold at immense profit through his newly founded chain of auto dealerships. The factory workers paid the difference by going without pay for months on end. According to some sources, Berezovsky was also initially involved in car smuggling rackets.

The early '90s, when Berezovsky was getting under way, was the time of the great gang wars in Moscow, as rival criminal coalitions shot it out for control of key industries and businesses. Businessmen could only ward off extortion or worse by paying one or other criminal group for a "roof"--protection. On one side in the most important war stood the Chechen mafia, much feared for their ruthlessness, and impenetrable to outsiders. On the other were the "Slavic alliance," native Russian gangsters determined to fight off the Chechen threat. It appears that Berezovsky forged an alliance with the Chechen forces, who provided his roof, a connection that would have terrible consequences in years to come. In the meantime, his fearsome allies took him through some tough times, such as the bloody gun battle on Lenin Prospekt outside one of his showrooms in 1993, or, more seriously, the detonation of a large bomb beside his passing car, which killed his bodyguard, decapitated his driver, and left him badly wounded. In a week, several people were arrested from the criminal group headed by Sergey Timofeyev (also known as "Silvestr"). The Moscow Trade Bank controlled by that group shortly returned some funds it owned to Berezovsky's conglomerate. In about three months (14 September 1994) Sergey Timofeev was killed by a car explosion, organizers of which have never been found.

By 1994, Berezovsky had moved beyond dependence on mobster protection. He had forged a more potent alliance by paying for the publication of Boris Yeltsin's memoirs, thus gaining entrée to the inner circle around the grateful author/president. This court was populated with strange figures, such as the "hippie journalist" Valentin Yumashev, through whom Berezovsky obtained his entrée; Yeltsin's tennis coach, who ran a large criminal empire of his own from a Kremlin office; not to mention Alexander Korzhakov, for a while the powerful chief of Yeltsin's Praetorian guard who later reported that Berezovsky had asked him to kill a business rival. Korzhakov performed great services to history by his assiduous bugging of everyone's phones, leaking the tapes when it seemed useful, and by his forthcoming reminiscences once he had fallen from his master's graces.

Once inside "the family," Berezovsky masterfully parleyed political connections into cash. Key to his modus operandi was the realization (shared by many of his peers in the rising business oligarchy) that it was not necessary to control a business, simply its cash flow. In a remarkably candid 1996 interview with Klebnikov he termed this approach the "privatization of profit" A fascinating chapter lays out in detail, complete with the transcripts of bugged phone Calls, how this method was successfully applied to the looting of Aeroflot, the formerly profitable state airline. Thanks in part to the appointment of Yeltsin's son-in-law as the company's head, Berezovsky was able to siphon off huge chunks of Aeroflot's considerable hard currency earnings through a series of shell companies in Switzerland.

From aviation, Berezovsky moved on to the really big money in Russia—oil. His entry into the oil business was facilitated by the most egregious of all the great rip-offs that have characterized post-Soviet Russia, the "loans for shares" scheme by which our hero and his fellow oligarchs helped themselves to priceless chunks of the country's resources, for pennies on the dollar, in return for financing Yeltsin's re-election in 1996. Following that free, but hardly fair, election, the godfathers increased his political profile, taking various high-level government posts (without of course ceasing his business operations for a second). It was at this time that his interest in Chechen matters re-emerged, in the form of lavish ransom payments to kidnappers in Chechnya for the retrieval of their victims. Klebnikov points out that this flow of money to the gangs in the devastated territory effectively made it impossible for the elected Chechen leader to stabilize his country. The consequent anarchy, culminating in the invasion of Dagestan in the summer of 1999 by fundamentalist Islamist Chechens, provided the backdrop for the second Chechen war and the rise to power of Vladimir Putin. Klebnikov suspends judgment as to whether any of the leadership in Moscow had a hand in the terrorist bombings in the capital that provided the final pretext for the invasion of Chechnya last year, although George Soros has been less demure, heavily hinting in an article in the New York Review of Books that Berezovsky deliberately fomented the war in furtherance of his political intrigues.

During the presidency of Boris Yeltsin from 1991 to 1999, Berezovsky was among the businessmen who gained access to the president. He acquired stakes in state companies including AutoVAZ, Aeroflot, and several oil properties that he (together with Roman Abramovich) organized into Sibneft. Berezovsky established a bank to finance his operations and acquired several news media holdings as well. Berezovsky was a leading proponent of political and economic liberalization in Russia. He has frequently entered into politics by getting control over the media sources (his holdings included the television channels ORT and TV6 (for which he paid almost nothing but gained control over them with the help of Boris Yeltsin), and newspapers Nezavisimaya Gazeta, Novye Izvestiya and Kommersant), financing political candidates, making political statements, and even seeking office himself. His media holdings provided essential support for Yeltsin's re-election in 1996. Berezovsky famously boasted how he was part of a small coterie of so-called oligarchs who owned 50 per cent of Russia's wealth.

Later, when in exile, Berezovsky had to fight legal battles over his holdings. According to New York Times, there is a suspicion that Berezovsky's later critical activities against the Russian government could simply be an attempt to orchestrate a political crisis for Putin and win political asylum in Britain as a means to protect permanently the wealth he carved out of Russia in the early days, when the pickings were easy.

Political career

Berezovsky was briefly executive secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and later a member of the State Duma (Russia's lower house of parliament) from 1999 to July 2000. He survived several assassination attempts,.

In the position of the deputy secretary of the Security Council of Russia, he was also involved in talks on freeing Russian and foreign hostages kidnapped in Chechnya and allegedly transferred large sums of money in exchange for hostages. Berezovsky admitted, that in 1997, he gave $2 million of his own money to Chechen field commander Shamil Basayev, who was then Prime Minister of Chechnya. The money was intended for restoration of a cement factory, he said, but he admitted it might have been used for other purposes. Berezovsky had strong ties with Chechens in Moscow. According to Paul Klebnikov book "Godfather of Kremlin Boris Berezovsky or looting of Russia", those connections came from Berezovsky's close relations with Chechen mafia, whom he paid for protection against other mafia gangs in early 90s. He said that he "saved at least fifty people, who otherwise would have been killed; most of them were simple soldiers. And believe me, all of this was strictly official, with the full knowledge and consent of the Kremlin." However, Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov accused Berezovsky and the Russian government of collusion with the hostage-takers.

The first assault against Berezovsky was launched during Primakov's premiership, when Berezovsky was accused of money laundering when he was at the head of Aeroflot. However, in the event it was Primakov who was dismissed.

According to Alex Goldfarb, an associate of Berezovsky and Litvinenko, in 1999 Berezovsky secured Vladimir Putin's appointment to the Prime Minister position as a result of a secret agreement, where Putin promised his loyalty to Yeltsin and his closest circle including Berezovsky himself. In June 2000 The Times reported that Spanish police discovered Putin secretly visited a villa in Spain belonging to Berezovsky on up to five different occasions in 1999. According to Ramzan Kadyrov, Berezovsky was strongly opposed to the Second Chechen War but nevertheless supported Putin's 2000 presidential campaign. Just before the March 2000 elections, The New Yorker wrote, "Berezovsky unleashed a propaganda blitz that obliterated the opposition as surely as Russia's tanks obliterated Grozny." At least two candidates who were widely felt to have a reasonable chance of winning over Putin – the mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, and the former premier Yevgeny Primakov – were swiftly eliminated through an elaborate smear campaign. However, according to Goldfarb, Putin later broke the agreement with Berezovsky, allegedly when he was infuriated by the critical coverage of the Russian submarine Kursk explosion by ORT TV channel owned by Berezovsky. Putin forced Berezovsky to sell his ORT shares, partly in exchange for promising to free Nikolai Glushkov, a former manager of Aeroflot company and close associate of Berezovsky, according to Goldfarb.

Mark Kramer, Director of the Harvard Project on Cold War Studies and a Senior Associate at the Davis Center for Russian Studies at Harvard University, asserts that Berezovsky is "consumed by greed and very short tempered. He is not the type of person that most people would want as a friend."

Stefanie Marsh of The Times wrote in 2007, that Berezovsky was one of the architects of Putin's rise to power and has spent the intervening years grinding an axe about his fall from grace.

Allegations and convictions of criminal activity

Crime accusations in Forbes article, murders of Paul Klebnikov and Vlad Listyev, interrogation by Russian police in 1995

A 1996 Forbes magazine article titled Godfather of the Kremlin?, by the Russian-American journalist Paul Klebnikov, portrayed Berezovsky as a mafiya boss who had his rivals murdered, and was involved in fraud, money laundering and had connections with Chechen mafia. In his article among other things Klebnikov accused Berezovsky of organizing murder of Vlad Listyev, notorious Russian anchorman whose TV show was the first one to start openly criticizing communism ideology in 1988 and was the most popular by ratings in Russia even 7 years after. Berezovsky was interrogated by police and accepted the fact, that one day before Vlad Listyev was killed he passed US$100,000 to one of the mafia leaders known as Nikolai. Berezovsky acknowledged having passed the money to mafia, but said that he passed the money to Nikolay in order to find out who arranged an assassination attempt on himself a year ago (in 1994). Berezovsky had a great influence on Boris Yeltsin whom he indirectly sponsored by donating on publishing of his autobiography and establishing friendly relationships (often by indirectly sponsoring their activities) with most people who surrounded the president, including his daughter Tatyana Dyachenko (whom he may have earned hundreds of millions of dollars), and convinced Yeltsin that he was an innocent victim of someone else's plot. Presidential support helped Berezovsky to stop criminal investigation against him.

A few months after the article in Forbes was published, Berezovsky sued the magazine for libel (in February 1997) in British court. In 2003 the court ruled that Forbes remove one statement from the article, as it didn't have enough evidence to support the claim that Berezovsky arranged murder of famous anchorman and TV producer Vlad Listyev. The court didn't order Forbes to remove the rest of the article from the website nor acknowledge that all data contained in it was false, nor forced Forbes to pay a compensation, that Berezovsky wanted when filing his claim. The article is still available online on the Forbes website (with exception of one above mentioned statement). Some media sources controlled by Berezovsky though, such as Kommersant magazine, reported, that Forbes "lost the case" and "completely retracted their claims against Berezovsky" which actually never happened. Berezovsky never contested in court the book "Godfather of the Kremlin: Boris Berezovsky and the looting of Russia" that Klebnikov published in 2000, which was a very extended version of the article.

On 9 July 2004, Klebnikov was attacked on a Moscow street late at night by unknown assailants who fired at least nine shots from a slowly moving car. Klebnikov was shot four times and initially survived, but he bled to death in the hospital because the ambulance took almost an hour to come, it had no oxygen bottle, and the hospital elevator that was taking him to the operating room broke. Before he died, Klebnikov described that there were 3 assassins in the car, and that he never met any of them before. The publisher of Forbes' Russian edition has said that the murder is "definitely linked to his professional activity". The paper speculated that a list of the 100 wealthiest Russians written by Klebnikov in May 2004 may have motivated the attack, though Klebnikov himself was most afraid of Boris Berezovsky according to his brother

Other early crime allegations in Russia by Alexander Lebed and Alexander Korzhakov

On 16 October 1996 Alexander Lebed, then Secretary of the Security Council, accused Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Gusinsky (another oligarch, a president of the MOST financial group, who was one of Berezovsky's main rivals at the time), of making up lists of persons slated for liquidation. At about the same time Alexander Korzhakov, former Chief of Russia President's Security Service, told journalists that Berezovsky had tried to talk him into assassinating Vladimir Gusinsky, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, singer and Duma deputy Iosif Kobzon, and others (Novy vzglyad newspaper, 19 October 1996).

First probe and arrest warrant in Russia on money laundering in 1999, and start of criminal investigation in Switzerland

In 1999 after Yevgeny Primakov was appointed Prime Minister of Russia, he started fighting corruption and initiated several criminal investigations. Among those was a probe on Berezovsky for fraud and money laundering in AvtoVAZ car manufacturer and Aeroflot airline. It may be worth mentioning that at that time Vladimir Putin was not playing a significant role in Russian politics.

On 6 April 1999 an arrest order in the name of Berezovsky was issued. (on the same day another arrest warrant has been issued against Alexander Smolensky. He was charged with illegal business activities and money laundering). At the time Berezovsky was in Paris and commented, that the case was started by his political opponents and the allegations were false. The prosecutor general Sergei Stepashin allowed him to enter the country and not to be arrested despite of the warrant. The arrest warrant was quashed by the mogul's allies in Boris Yeltsin's Kremlin, and on 5 November 1999 the charges were lifted and Berezovsky reclassified from accused person to witness.

At the same time several investigations have been started in Switzerland against Russians involved in fraud and money laundering. Among those was a case against Switzerland-Albanian construction firm Mabetex which supposedly bribed Pavel Borodin (government official close to Yeltsin responsible for a lot of government property in Russia at that time). Swiss prosecutors also visited companies "Andava", "Forus" and a few others under control of Berezovsky. The bank accounts of Berezovsky, his partner in "Aeroflot" Nikolay Glushkov and a few other people were arrested with almost US$70 million frozen on them. At the end of summer the entry visa to Switzerland was rejected to Berezovsky. The investigation against Berezovsky in Switzerland is still under way. Berezovsky has been investigated by the Swiss financial authorities for money laundering and membership of a criminal organization. In 2003, the Swiss Bundesanwaltschaft (General State Prosecutor) started a criminal case against Berezovsky and, amongst others, Nikolai Glushkov, for money laundering through the Swiss firms Ovaco AG, situated at the Monbijoustrasse in Bern, and Anros SA in the Lausanne World Trade Center. Berezovsky claimed the proceedings were motivated by antisemitism. In December 2006, as news broke of the death of Alexander Litvinenko, the Bundesanwaltschaft announced that its investigations against Boris Berezovsky were still continuing.

The Federal Criminal Court of Switzerland on 27 October 2008 ruled to confiscate several million francs from bank accounts in Switzerland, one of whose beneficiaries was or is Berezovsky.

Further criminal investigation and criminal convictions in Russia

On 1 November 2000 Russia's prosecutor general demanded that Boris Berezovsky and Vladimir Gusinsky (at the moment outside of Russia) appeared before the court in Russia by 13 November with the threat of international arrest warrants and prison if they failed to show up. The general prosecutor office said it now had sufficient proof (in the case of Boris Berezovsky) to bring charges of large-scale theft in relation to alleged embezzlement from the state airline Aeroflot Berezovsky who was abroad, decided not to come back to Russia.

On 20 September 2001 Berezovsky was put on Russia's federal warrant list and charged in absentia with assisting fraud, hiding currency operations from Russian regulators and failing to sell on domestic market a part of foreign currency obtained from international trade as was required by currency regulation in Russia, and money laundering.

On 5 September 2007, a trial in absentia began in Moscow to examine allegations that Berezovsky had embezzled money from the Russian airline carrier Aeroflot in the 1990s. On 29 November 2007, a Moscow court found Berezovsky guilty of massive embezzlement, and sentenced him to six years in jail. The court found that he had stolen 214 million roubles (nearly $9 million) from Aeroflot through fraud, and ordered him to repay it. Berezovsky called the verdict "a farce". The judge described Berezovsky as part of an organized criminal group that included Aeroflot managers.

On 26 June 2009, he was convicted in Krasnogorsk court on another charge of stealing 5,500 cars from AvtoVAZ in 1994 and sentenced in absentia to 13 years of imprisonment. His business associate Yuli Dubov, who is also in exile in Great Britain, received a 9 years sentence. A fiction book "Bolshaya Paika", loosely based on Berezovsky and written by Dubov, which later served as basis for the movie Tycoon, was used as one of the pieces of evidence. His appeal in the Moscow Oblast court was rejected on 17 September 2009.

Allegations by Mikhail Fridman

On 28 October 2004 in a popular show «To the barrier» on NTV Russian TV channel a shareholder and CEO of Alfa Group Mikhail Fridman, was invited as a guest and was facing Andrey Vasiliev, then general director of Kommersant Publishing House, the leading source for business news in Russia at the time. In the course of the heated debates, Fridman claimed he was willing to give a loan to Kommersant minors in 1999 so that they could buy out the Publishing House from its principal owner Vladimir Yakovlev. Berezovsky, Fridman claimed, who was himself eyeing Kommersant, was “extremely displeased” and “threatening” when calling him. “Berezovsky was threatening me. In general, he was threatening everybody,” Fridman said the key phrase of the suit. On 31 March 2005 Berezovsky submitted a claim to High Court of England to Mihkail Fridman for libel and asked for compensation. Since Mikhail Fridman was unable to provide any proof that Berezovsky threatened him, on 26 May 2006 the jury ordered Fridman to pay Berezovsky GBP50,000.

Criminal probe and arrest warrant in Brazil

In May 2006 Berezovsky was detained for several hours in São Paulo airport and questioned about Media Sports Investment (MSI) group financial violations, which was a sponsor of the national Corinthians football club, local media reported. He was later allowed to leave the country.

On 12 July 2007, a Brazilian judge issued an arrest warrant for Berezovsky and a number of other British and Brazilian suspects in connection with an investigation against the Media Sports Investments group, which is suspected of money laundering. Berezovsky is accused of being the main financial backer of MSI. Since Berezovsky, Iranian-born Kia Joorabchian and Noyan Bedru were not in Brazil at the time, warrants for their arrest were forwarded to Interpol. Berezovsky claimed that the Brazilian investigation was a part of the Kremlin's "politicized campaign" against him. São Paulo court demanded the detention of Mr Berezovsky and his associates over accusations that money had been laundered through the city's Corinthians football club. The order came after a two-year investigation into large quantities of cash allegedly pumped into the club by an investment group fronted by Mr Berezovsky's long-time associate, the Iranian-born businessman, Kia Joorabchian. A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Mr Joorabchian, who allegedly oversaw the transfer of Carlos Tevez, an Argentinian football star, from the Corinthians to West Ham United. In the summary of a 15-page report released after the investigation, the Brazilian prosecutor Mr Carneiro said: "There is enough circumstantial evidence indicating that the MSI-Corinthians partnership is being used for the laundering of money, most of which was received from Boris Berezovsky, who is wanted (by Russian authorities) for crimes committed against the Russian financial system."

Investigation in Netherlands

In August 2007, the Russian Deputy Prosecutor General announced that the Dutch tax police had visited Moscow in connection with a handling and money laundering case involving Berezovsky. As Russian media were claiming that a criminal case had been initiated against Berezovsky in the Netherlands on a charge of money laundering, the Dutch prosecuting office or Openbaar Ministerie hastened to announce that he was not the object of any criminal investigation in the Netherlands, while Berezovsky himself responded by saying that he had no business in the Netherlands. Several Dutch newspapers counterclaimed that the name Boris Berezovsky was in fact mentioned in the handling and money laundering dossier, to which the Dutch prosecution officers in function refused to comment.

Search in Berezovsky's castle in France

On 11 May 2005 French Central Office for Fighting Major Financial Crime (OCRGDF) searched Cote d’-Azur castle of Berezovsky. The castle was searched in the course of investigation of Berezovsky’s suspected involvement in money laundering, AFP reported referring to the sources close to investigation.

Allegations of funding terrorism

There were persistent reports of Berezovsky sponsoring terrorists in Chechnya. In an interview to Forbes Magazine, Ichkeria's President Aslan Maskhadov referred to Boris Berezovsky as one of the persons most responsible for the war in the Caucasus.

Yusup Soslambekov, chairman of the Confederation of the Peoples of the Caucasus, regarded Berezovsky as his personal enemy and threatened to disclose evidence of Berezovsky's involvement with certain Chechen warlords whom he hired to help him in his shady dealings with Chechnya's oil, drug trafficking, hostage-taking and similar pursuits. Soon after Yusup Soslambekov fell victim to a contract killing in Moscow. Even before that Akmal Saidov, who had also unearthed facts about Berezovsky's criminal activities in the Caucasus, was kidnapped; his body was later found.

According to Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov, Boris Berezovsky encouraged Chechen warlords Shamil Basayev and Salman Raduyev to kidnap people so that Berezovsky could finance them by paying ransoms. Kadyrov said he personally witnessed the agreement. "He couldn’t just give money to the militants, so he invented this mechanism. In my presence, Berezovsky suggested to Raduev and Basaev: ‘Capture people and I’ll ransom them. I’ll get good publicity and you’ll get money.’ He paid millions of dollars to Basaev", Kadyrov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta in April 2009. Kadyrov also said he believed Berezovsky was behind the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya.

In early 2009, former Chechen separatist Bukhari Barayev, and brother of the notorious Chechen separatist field commander Arbi Barayev, who was killed in 2001, referred to Berezovsky as "the extremists' bread winner".

Berezovsky said that he had a conversation with the Chechen Islamist leader Movladi Udugov in 1999, six months before the beginning of fighting in Dagestan. A transcript of the phone conversation between Berezovsky and Udugov was leaked to one of Moscow tabloids on 10 September 1999. Udugov proposed to start the Dagestan war to provoke the Russian response, topple the Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov and establish a new Islamic republic of Basayev-Udugov that would be friendly to Russia. Berezovsky asserted that he refused the offer, but "Udugov and Basayev conspired with Stepashin and Putin to provoke a war to topple Maskhadov ... but the agreement was for the Russian army to stop at the Terek River. However, Putin double-crossed the Chechens and started an all-out war."

Exile in Britain

In 1999 Russia opened investigations into Berezovsky's business activities. Fearing arrest, Berezovsky fled to London in 2001, where he was granted political asylum, which infuriated the Russian authorities. He has been charged with fraud and political corruption, but British courts have rejected all three attempts to get him extradited to Russia. From his new home in the U.K., he has strongly criticized the current Russian administration.

In 2003 Boris Berezovsky formally changed his name to Platon Elenin ("Platon" being Russian for Plato, and Elena is the name of his wife) in the British courts. No reason has been given – but Platon is the name of the lead character in a film Tycoon based on his life. In December 2003 he was allowed to travel under his new name to Georgia, provoking a row between Russia and Georgia.

In recent years, Berezovsky has gone into business with Neil Bush, the younger brother of former U.S. President George W. Bush. Berezovsky has been an investor in Bush's Ignite! Learning, an educational software corporation, since at least 2003. In 2005, Neil Bush met with Berezovsky in Latvia, causing tension with Russia due to Berezovsky's fugitive status. Neil Bush has also been seen in Berezovsky's box at the Emirates Stadium, the home of British football club Arsenal F.C., for a game. There has been speculations that the relationship may cause tension in Russo-American bilateral relations.

It has been reported that Berezovsky's funds may have depleted rapidly with the onset of the late 2000s recession. It may well be true as Berezovsky never proved his ability to manage any assets and was always best at just taking companies' cashflows under control by liaising with the senior management and making those firms which did not formally belong to him his cash cows.

On 19 February 2009, Interfax quoted another former Chechen separatist leader who switched sides, Magomed Khambiyev, as accusing Berezovsky of financing the First Deputy Prime Minister of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Movladi Udugov, as well as the late separatist warlord Shamil Basaev, and of broadcasting "Wahhabi ideas." He alleged that Berezovsky had financed "illegal armed unit" leaders "under the guise of paying ransoms for hostages" as well as the Kavkaz television channel, which he referred to as a "Wahhabi mouthpiece." Khambiyev also alleged that Berezovsky "personally" handed Basaev $1 million upon arriving in Ingushetia after the first Chechen military campaign. He was quoted as saying "I asked Basayev why Berezovsky had given the money and why Basaev accepted it. He answered that Berezovsky was afraid of him and therefore paid the money". Khambiyev said that it later turned out that Berezovsky had actually given Basayev $2 million while in Ingushetia.

Berezovsky's exile statements

Appeals for regime change

In September 2005, Berezovsky said in an interview with the BBC: "I'm sure that Putin doesn't have the chance to survive, even to the next election in 2008. I am doing everything in my power to limit his time frame, and I am really thinking of returning to Russia after Putin collapses, which he will." In January 2006, Berezovsky stated in an interview to a Moscow-based radio station that he was working on overthrowing the administration of Vladimir Putin by force. Berezovsky has also publicly accused Putin of being "a gangster" and the "terrorist number one".

On 13 April 2007, in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, Berezovsky declared that he is plotting the violent overthrow of President Putin by financing and encouraging coup plotters in Moscow: "We need to use force to change this regime. It isn't possible to change this regime through democratic means. There can be no change without force, pressure."' He also admitted that during the last six years he struggled much to "destroy the positive image of Putin" and said that "Putin has created an authoritarian regime against the Russian constitution.... I don't know how it will happen, but authoritarian regimes only collapse by force." Berezovsky said he had dedicated much of the last six years to "trying to destroy the positive image of Putin" that many in the west held, portraying him whenever possible as a dangerously anti-democratic figure.

A teenager is carrying sign "Berezovsky, we are with you!" during police attack on a 2007 Dissenters March in Saint Petersburg; The Other Russia organizers said that this slogan was a provocation carried out by pro-government youth groups

Soon after Berezovsky's 2007 statement, Garry Kasparov, an important leader of the opposition movement The Other Russia and leader of the United Civil Front, wrote the following on his website: "Berezovsky has lived in emigration for many years and no longer has significant influence upon the political processes which take place in Russian society. His extravagant proclamations are simply a method of attracting attention. Furthermore, for the overwhelming majority of Russians he is a political symbol of the 90s, one of the "bad blokes" enriching themselves behind the back of president Yeltsin. The informational noise around Berezovsky is specifically beneficial for the Kremlin, which is trying to compromise Russia's real opposition. Berezovsky has not had and does not have any relation to Other Russia or the United Civil Front." Berezovsky responded in June 2007 by saying that "there is not one significant politician in Russia whom he has not financed" and that this included members of Other Russia. The managing director of the United Civil Front, in turn, said that the organization would consider suing Berezovsky over these allegations., but the lawsuit has never been brought before the court.

The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has launched a criminal investigation against Berezovsky to find whether his comments can be considered a "seizure of power by force", as outlined in the Russian Criminal Code. If convicted, an offender is facing up to 20 years of imprisonment. The British Foreign Office denounced Berezovsky's statements, warning him that his status of a political refugee may be reconsidered, should he continue to make similar remarks. Furthermore, Scotland Yard had announced that it would investigate whether Berezovsky's statements were in violation of the law. However in the following July, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that Berezovsky would not face charges in the UK for his comments. Kremlin officials called it a "disturbing moment" in Anglo-Russian relations.

Alleged assassination attempts in London

Alleged 2003 plot

According to Alexander Litvinenko, a Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) agent in London was making preparations to assassinate Berezovsky with a binary weapon in September 2003. This alleged plot was reported to British police. Hazel Blears, then a Home Office Minister, said that inquiries made were "unable to either substantiate this information or find evidence of any criminal offences having been committed". Berezovsky in turn later accused Putin of ordering the deadly poisoning of Litvinenko.

This was not the first alleged plot to murder Berezovsky that had been announced by Litvinenko. On 17 November 1998, during the period that Vladimir Putin was the head of the FSB, five high-ranking officers of FSB's Directorate for the Analysis of Criminal Organisations appeared at a press conference in the Russian Interfax news agency. The officers, including the then-Lieutenant Colonel Litvinenko, accused the head of the Directorate and his deputy of ordering them to assassinate Boris Berezovsky and the FSB officer Mikhail Trepashkin in November 1997.

Alleged 2007 plot

In June 2007 Berezovsky said he fled Britain on the advice of Scotland Yard, amid reports that he was the target of an assassination attempt by a suspected Russian hitman. On 18 July 2007, British tabloid The Sun reported that the alleged would-be assassin was captured by the police at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane. They reported that the suspect, arrested by the anti-terrorist police after being tracked for a week by MI5, was deported back to Russia when no weapons were found and there was not enough evidence to charge him with any offence. In addition, they said British police placed a squad of uniformed officers around the Chechen dissident Akhmed Zakayev's house in north London, and also phoned Litvinenko's widow, Marina, to urge her to take greater security precautions. Russia's ambassador to the UK, Yuri Fedotov, said he was not aware of any such plot and told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there was "nothing that could confirm" the plot, although British police did confirm that they had arrested a suspect in an alleged murder plot.

Berezovsky said he was told the assassin would be someone he knew, who would shoot him in the head and then surrender to the police. He again accused Vladimir Putin of being behind a plot to assassinate him. The Kremlin has denied similar claims in the past. According to The Guardian, there is speculation that Berezovsky leaked details of the alleged attempt to kill him to the media to antagonise Moscow, once the British authorities had returned the suspected hitman to Moscow. The timing of the story has also been seen as suspicious, coming in the middle of a row over Britain's attempts to charge a Russian businessman and former security agent, Andrei Lugovoi, with Litvinenko's murder.

According to the interview given by a high-ranking British security official to the BBC2 in July 2008, the alleged Russian agent, known as "A", was of a Chechen nationality. He was identified by Kommersant as the Chechen mobster Movladi Atlangeriyev; after returning to Russia, Atlangeriyev forcibly disappeared in January 2008 by the unknown men in Moscow.

Involvement in Alexander Litvinenko affair

Main article: Alexander Litvinenko poisoning

Many publications in Russian media suggested that the death of Alexander Litvinenko was connected to Berezovsky. Former FSB chief Nikolay Kovalyov, for whom Litvinenko worked, said that the incident "looks like the hand of Berezovsky. I am sure that no kind of intelligence services participated." This involvement of Berezovsky was alleged by numerous Russian television shows. Kremlin supporters saw it as a conspiracy to smear Russian government's reputation by engineering a spectacular murder of a Russian dissident abroad.

After Litvinenko's death, traces of polonium-210 were found in an office of Berezovsky. Russian prosecutors were not allowed to investigate the office. Russian authorities have also been unable to question Berezovsky. The Foreign Ministry complained that Britain was obstructing its attempt to send prosecutors to London to interview more than 100 people, including Berezovsky.

Alleged involvement in the 2004 Ukraine presidential election

In September 2005, soon after the Ukrainian government led by prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was dismissed by president Viktor Yushchenko, former president of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk accused Berezovsky of financing Yushchenko's presidential election campaign, and provided copies of documents showing money transfers from companies he said are controlled by Berezovsky to companies controlled by Yuschenko's official backers. Berezovsky has confirmed that he met Yushchenko's representatives in London before the election, and that the money was transferred from his companies, but he refused to confirm or deny that the companies that received the money were used in Yushchenko's campaign. Financing of election campaigns by foreign citizens is illegal in Ukraine. In September 2007, Berezovsky launched lawsuits against two Ukrainian politicians, Oleksandr Tretyakov, a former presidential aid, and David Zhvaniya, a former emergencies minister. Berezovsky is suing the men for nearly US$23 million, accusing them of misusing the money he had allocated in 2004 to fund Ukraine's Orange Revolution.

2010 Ukraine presidential election

Berezovsky called on the Ukrainian business to support Yushchenko at the 2010 presidential election of January 2010 as a guarantor of debarment of property redistribution after the election.

On 10 December 2009 the Ukrainian minister of interior affairs Yuriy Lutsenko stated that if the Russian interior ministry would request it Berezovsky would be detained after arriving in Ukraine.

See also

References

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  91. Send Berezovsky back and we'll help with Litvinenko case, says Russia Times Online Retrieved on 6 April 2008
  92. Template:Ru icon 25.01.2006 Пан Березовский вершит историю Украины, Lenta.Ru, 15.09.2005
  93. Two Our Ukraine lawmakers summoned to court upon Berezovskiy`s lawsuit, UNIAN, 3 September 2007
  94. ^ Police to detain Russian businessman Berezovsky if arrives in Ukraine, Kyiv Post (10 December 2009)

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Preceded byIvan Korotchenya Executive Secretary of CIS
29 April 1998 – 4 March 1999 		Succeeded byIvan Korotchenya (acting)

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