Berezovsky Feels the Heavy Hand of Primakov
When Yevgeny Primakov became prime minister last September, he
told a confidant that he would like to see Boris Berezovsky
behind bars or permanently residing in another country.
Berezovsky, one of the most influential and feared figures in
the world of Russian business and politics, ignored the
warnings. Now he is discovering how dangerous Primakov can be. A
series of police raids, news leaks and crackdowns on major
corporations owned or controlled by Berezovsky has left him
fighting for his political life -- and possibly his freedom. Press
reports, leaked by the Federal Security Service, TIME was told,
accuse Berezovsky of bugging the Yeltsin family's
communications. Government sources hint that Berezovsky, who
until now has appeared untouchable, might fall victim to
Primakov's new anticorruption campaign.