Mikhail Khodorkovsky
I think Putin's imprisonment of Mikhail Khodorkovsky is the most fascinating business story of this moment. I do not know enough to know if Mikhail Khodorkovsky is an honest man, a dishonest man, or something in between.
I just read this interview with him on the PBS website, Frontline. I found it very interesting. He sounds like a guy who cares deeply about Russia and wants it to move to a true democracy. If this is really who he is and not just posturing on his part, then i think the free world should be very concerned about his imprisonment.
He Mr. Khordokhovsky was not honest when he obtained his assets. He may now be as honest as an emerging (confused) tax and legal system will allow him to be. He also employs a bunch of people who are way cleverer than the people who wrote the laws; so legal circumvention is always possible.
Should you be concerned; If you are a trader - not just now. Greed is in the ascendancy over fear - as Putin's cynics believed it would.
If you believe that authoritarianism and its close friend corruption is a tax on entrepreneurship / innovation - yes.
If you beleive that the US and UK's government short term focus on Russia's superior intelligence in radical islam will allow Putin to ignore the feeble protests of the EU and allow a monster to grow then you should be very worried.
In short - Khordokhovsky is not a good guy but Putin could become a monster.
Posted by: alistair | November 15, 2003 at 11:47 AM
Hi. A Yahoo group has just started which may be of interest to people here centred around the Mikhail Khodorokovsky affair. Please join and add thoughts - it seems there are a lot of intelligent takes on this event in Russian politics...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mikhail_Khodorkovsky_Society/
Posted by: Qal | December 09, 2003 at 04:31 PM
There are devils in angelic skin all over the world, Mikhail although being who he is, is faced with conflicting interests with those who in Russia feel there personal interest should superceed others including his...
Posted by: Ibrahim mustapha | February 16, 2004 at 05:48 PM
Hi! I just found your web-page - and your discussion on it! If you ask me: I think Mr. Chodorkowskij is a quite honest man! I really believe his words when he talks about russian democracy, new russian political (democratic) culture.......and so on! His ideology is real I´m sure! And arresting him may be the beginning of Russia´s turn into an authority state...
Posted by: Julia | July 07, 2004 at 04:02 PM
Very good site. You are doing great job. Please Keep it up... .!
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Posted by: Aparaty cyfrowe | January 18, 2006 at 08:16 AM
Has anyone considered the plight of Mikhail Khodorokovsky's family?
I believe he is married with three children and they were facing eviction from their home. Does anyone have any more info?
Posted by: douglas | October 11, 2006 at 05:50 PM