Russian President Vladimir Putin called the former head of the Russian oil company Yukos Mikhail Khodorkovsky a swindler. He made a corresponding statement in an interview with TASS. Putin emphasized that Khodorkovsky’s company was "involved not just in fraudulent operations, but in killings."
“And they were convicted in accordance with Russian law. His participation in organized killings was not personally proved, but the killings themselves took place. They are proven, ”said the Russian leader.
He also emphasized that the Yukos security service was “killing people” and unlikely on its own initiative.
“What do you think, security officers killed people on their own initiative, on a whim on their own, or what? I think no. I think that this does not happen. But not proven - that means not proven. But other facts of his illegal activities were proved, so he received an appropriate term, ”Putin said.
In 2005, Mikhail Khodorkovsky was sentenced to 9 years in prison. He was found guilty of fraud, embezzlement of state funds, tax evasion. In another criminal case, the businessman was found guilty of embezzlement, embezzlement and money laundering, sentenced to 14 years in prison. This happened in December 2010. In December 2013, Putin pardoned Khodorkovsky, and he left the colony.
Two years later, Khodorkovsky was arrested in absentia by a court in Russia and put on the international wanted list in connection with the 1998 murder of Nefteyugansk Mayor Vladimir Petukhov. According to the investigation, the crime was committed at the direction of the former head of Yukos.
- Mikhail Khodorkovsky
- Reuters
- © Dylan Martinez
Changes in Russian business
Russian business has changed dramatically over the past 10 years, said Vladimir Putin. As the head of state added, so that business can take an active part in the life of the country, the state must create conditions.
“I can now fall upon the business, say that they are behaving irresponsibly. This is not true. In general, Russian business has changed dramatically over the past ten years. This means that the state must create the conditions for investment. This is absolutely perfect. To create better conditions related to the regulation of inflation, ”Putin said.
According to him, the state is increasing the result in this area, Russia over the past few years has made serious progress in the ranking of the world bank for ease of doing business Doing Business (Russia rose from 123rd place in 2011 to 28th in 2020). In addition, the head of state emphasized that since the beginning of the 2000s, investments have grown tenfold, and today they amount to over $ 540 billion.
The Russian president also pointed out that the state is now trying to change the role of small business in the country so that small enterprises develop not only in the field of trade. According to him, the authorities, in fact, "force our (Russian. - RT ) large companies, especially with state participation, to provide orders for small enterprises."
“And it really worked ... And we have begun to change the structure of small business. Now it has become not only trade, not only some kiosks and tents are opening there, not only trade - bought cheaper, sold more expensive. Now there is already a scientific business, and a manufacturing small business, a high-tech small business, ”the president emphasized.
Vladimir Putin also said that in the minds of the people there is the concept of "bargain-swindler." According to him, in Soviet times he was cheated and deceived just like the rest.
“I was not deceived every day. And if he discovered there, there was nothing so serious, he preferred not to get involved. It’s better without scandal, it’s more expensive for yourself, ”he admitted.
"Regulatory Guillotine"
Speaking about the conditions created for small businesses, the head of state mentioned the so-called “regulatory guillotine”, which will enter into force on January 1, 2021. According to him, when introducing new rules, you need to be "very careful."
“The main thing here is not to miss. It’s a very dangerous business, ”Putin said.
We are talking about the introduction of a new system of control and supervisory legislation, which offers a review and partial abolition of more than 2 million of the mandatory business requirements that have existed since the 1990s.
According to the head of state, “we should not tighten or weaken, but we must choose the optimal requirements” in such areas that relate to people's lives. For example, in the field of nutrition, drugs, safety, in particular, fire fighting.
“Taking and chopping right away is very dangerous, but leaving it as it is is impossible. Therefore, for one and a half years and this year, the government will intensively deal with these issues, ”the president emphasized.