February 8, 2005
Pravda
Photo: Mk-54 Special Atomic Demolition Munition, AKA “suitcase nuke”, Photo from Brookings Institution archives
hechen rebels could have an atomic bomb, Boris Berezovsky, Russian tycoon currently living in self-imposed exile in Great Britain, told the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily on the phone. Russian security officials refused to comment on Berezovsky’s statement.
Komsomolskaya Pravda correspondents got in touch with the controversial tycoon and harsh critic of Vladimir Putin, asking him to comment on the Chechen rebels’ call for a cease-fire issued last week. Berezovsky denied allegations that it was he who had originally come up with the cease-fire initiative.
“I am truly flattered, I have been away from Chechnya and Russia for five years now and I am still believed to be in charge of all the comings and goings there. No, it was not me,” Berezovsky said.
Berezovsky is convinced that Vladimir Putin should accept the invitation of the separatist leaders and launch peace talks with them. “Or else, he will have to face the Hague tribunal, along with Milosevic,” Berezovsky said.
He also lashed out at Western leaders, effectively accusing them of double standards as regards to Chechnya. “The West pities Maskhadov, and at the same time flirts with Putin. But when things go really bad in Chechnya the West will gladly bring in their peacekeeping troops there. For Russia that would be a resounding defeat… Russia will not only lose Chechnya — it will lose its independence.”
Basayev and Maskhadov have remained invincible for a decade, Berezovsky said. Moreover, lately they have come into possession of an atomic bomb. “It is a small portable device which had not been used until now for only one reason: because some necessary element was missing,” he said citing what he referred to as “credible sources”.
Russian security officials refused to comment on Berezovsky’s allegations. “We do not believe it necessary to comment on statements, especially nonsensical ones, made by people placed on international wanted list,” a security official told Komsomolskaya Pravda.
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/02/08/berezobomb.shtml