An interesting piece on the jailed oligarch Mikhail Khododorkovsky by RIA Novosti political commentator Vasily Kononenko in Moscow. Thugh no friend of the Left in Russia, his article demonstrates two things. First, that the era of neoliberalism in Russia is over. Secondly, liberals themselves are loathe to admit it.
The history of Russian revolutions progresses in circles.
In the 18th century those pardoned and exiled to Siberia following the December 1825 uprising against the monarchy wrote repentant letters in the form of philosophical essays to their sympathizers in Petersburg.
Some years later, Lenin, in his “Letters From Afar,” called on his comrades “not to try to fit revolutionary tasks into the Procrustean bed of narrowly interpreted theory,” but to take into account modern realities.
Today, former oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, recently jailed for nine years for embezzling public property, is criticizing his actions in prophetic letters.
First, he wrote about the “crisis of liberalism in Russia,” and a few days ago published an article about the “left turn” in Russia’s history. The “owner” of a prison cell, who has the same right as all inmates to a 40kg food parcel every month, attempted to stir public opinion with the categorical conclusion that authoritarian trends are gathering momentum in Russia, and predicted the inevitable advance to power of the left (the Communist Party and Rodina), which embody the idea of social justice.
He also admits things that no Russian billionaire has publicly said before.
“Who has taken over socialist property, which was created by the hard work of three generations?” he asks rhetorically. “Why do mediocre people without a good education make millions, while academics, sailors and astronauts have sunk below the poverty line?”