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Berezovsky Claims Chechen Rebels Have A-bomb

Thread ID: 16687 | Posts: 4 | Started: 2005-02-10

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Jack Cassidy [OP]

2005-02-10 03:18 | User Profile

[url="http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/02/08/berezobomb.shtml"][size=2]http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/02/08/berezobomb.shtml[/size][/url]

[size=3]Berezovsky Claims Chechen Rebels Have A-bomb[/size]

Created: 08.02.2005 11:16 MSK (GMT +3), Updated: 11:17 MSK** **

MosNews

Chechen 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.

Jack Cassidy

2005-02-10 03:23 | User Profile

If this is true, I would bet that exploding it in Russia is about option number six, even if either Baseyev or Maskhadov have effective control over the nuke. I would bet even Basayev would sign off on this nuke going to the Green Zone before Moscow.

Petr

2005-02-10 11:18 | User Profile

My bet is that Berezovsky is full of s#it, as usual. (note that big "[SIZE=4]could [/SIZE] have")

Petr

Sertorius

2005-02-10 12:11 | User Profile

If this story is true, I would wonder how much money Berezovsky and his ilk made off selling the bomb. I wouldn't put it past his type for a minute.