On Thursday, the UK Home Office notified the Bow Street Court that Mr. Berezovsky had been granted refugee status.

Boris Berezovsky elaborated on his future plans in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper. “Now I can travel everywhere except Russia …using a refugee document, so-called travel document. Whether under my real name or under a pseudonym. This will depend on my decision and the decision of British authorities. So, all restrictions connected with my travelling seem to be lifted. However, as there’s a request for my extradition through Interpol, I could be detained in a country which has an agreement with Russia, to clarify the circumstances… I am going to travel to other countries… In political terms, the Home Office’s decision means that all talks about whether I deal with politics or not, are over… At least, the British people admitted that I do deal with politics. Undoubtedly, this decision is important not just for me, but this is a precedent for all Russian business. The times when we were seen exclusively as criminals, mafia and devil incarnate, are over. This decision draws a line. It happened so that I am the most odious figure in Russian business. And even in regard to me, an odious figure, such an unprecedented decision has been made. Unprecedented in the past and setting a precedent for the future,” the businessman said.

The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation accuses Boris Berezovsky and Yuly Dubov of massive fraud, and demands they be extradited to Russia. The businessmen were arrested in London in March 2003, but they were released on bail later. They are accused of financial crimes committed in the period from November 1994 to July 1995, when Mr. Berezovsky was Chairman of the Board of Directors of the LogoVAZ car company, and Mr. Dubov was the company’s General Director.

The names of Boris Berezovsky and Yuly Dubov were put on the Interpol wanted list. A Russian court issued an arrest warrant for them. In accordance with international law, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia sent an extradition request for the two businessmen to the UK Home Office in November 2002, and provided all the necessary documents.