10 November 2003 16:38
RUSSIA: SPS LEADER LASHES OUT AT PUTIN OVER YUKOS...
Speaking after Yavlinskii during the same 7 November NTV debate, Union of Rightist Forces (SPS) leader Boris Nemtsov
reacted harshly to statements about Yukos made by President Putin during his recent trip to Rome. Putin has divided
Russian society, Nemtsov said. He noted that former Yukos head Khodorkovskii has been jailed without a trial, although
this has done nothing to increase anyone's salary or pension. At the same time, capital began flowing from the
country, contracts were disrupted, investment has been scaled back, jobs have been cut, and budget revenues have
declined. "As a result, the country is poorer and economic growth has stopped," Nemtsov said. He said that
"10 million people" could theoretically be jailed on the same charges that Khodorkovskii faces, and that the
SPS advocates raising taxes on the wealthy instead of putting people in prison. However, he said, this must be done in a
way that will not harm business. VY Copyright (c) 2003. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty
[AIW [Asia Africa Intelligence Wire]] |
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