Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky said he is planning a revolution in Russia to topple President Vladimir Putin, in comments published on Friday.
"We need to use force to change this regime," Berezovsky, who has received asylum in Britain, told the Guardian newspaper.
"It isn't possible to change this regime through democratic means. There can be no change without force, pressure."
Asked if he was fomenting a revolution, he said: "You are absolutely correct."
Berezovsky, a vocal critic of Putin, said he was in contact with members of Russia's political elite.
He said these people -- who he did not name because, he said, that would endanger their lives -- shared his opinion that Putin was eroding democratic reforms, centralizing power and infringing Russia's constitution, according to the Guardian.
"There is no chance of regime change through democratic elections," Berezovsky said.
Maybe it's just me, but Putin isn't the sort of person I would want to have my intentions telegraphed to. He's not so much the head of a country as the godfather of a large criminal syndicate. Folks have a way of getting seriously dead when they oppose him.
In fact I'm sure the first question life insurance agents in London ask of Russian emigres is, "Are you a Putin critic?"
I bet the premiums are just hell.
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