Prosecutor-General Yury Chaika today said he sent a request to Britain's Home Office asking for the extradition of Berezovsky to Russia and the revocation of his political asylum status in Britain.
Berezovsky said in an interview published on April 13 in "The Guardian" newspaper that he was seeking to foment a revolution and that "force" was needed to change the regime in Russia.
He said he was in contact with members of Russia's political elite who share his views.
If extradited to Russia and found guilty, Berezovsky could face a prison sentence of up to 20 years.
A spokesman for Scotland Yard said police were studying whether the tycoon's comments broke any British laws.
(Interfax, ITAR-TASS, dpa)
| FURTHER READING | |
 Former presidential adviser Andrei Illarionov tells RFE/RL that a new ideological regime has emerged in Russia. more
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 Former Prime Minister and presidential hopeful Kasyanov tells RFE/RL that Russian civil society must not be silent now. more
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Russia's Democratic Development
Demonstrators speak with local politicians in Butovo about the destruction of a local forest in July 2006 (RFE/RL)
IS RUSSIAN DEMOCRACY MANAGING? Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Western powers seek to pressure Russia under the pretext of concern over its democratic development. He has said Russia is ready to listen to "well-intentioned criticism," but will not allow anyone to interfere in its internal affairs. The Kremlin has been criticized for stifling political oppostion, increasing central control over the media, and cracking down on the work on nongovernmental organizations.
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