In an interview with DW (Deutsche Welle) the founder of Open Russia, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, talking with journalist Zhanna Nemtsova, admitted that he was surprised by a radical change in the mindset of Russian society. The former head of Yukos also gave an assessment of what is currently happening with Russia’s domestic policy, talked about how decisions are made in the Kremlin, what Vladimir Putin is personally involved in, why the Russian president needs Ramzan Kadyrov; and when change will come to Russia.

What do you make of your own political future?

I was and still am a person who is capable of influencing developments in Russia, and I hope it remains this way in future.

Do you, yourself, have political ambitions? What is your long-term goal?

I don’t see any schedule for the coming changes in Russia’s political life. I’ve already said that, for me, 2022 (when presidential elections will be held in which Putin will no longer be eligible to run – Ed.) will be the year that will likely bring change. But it could also come sooner or, unfortunately, later. For me, as an admirer of the writer Mikhail Bulgakov, it would be silly to start making personal plans so far into the future. As Bulgakov said: “Yes, man is mortal, but that would be only half the trouble. The worst of it is that he’s sometimes unexpectedly mortal.”

Read the full interview here.