Getting free, Mr. Bykov confused all the cards on the eve of the election of the Krasnoyarsk governor

Some thought that Anatoly Bykov, nicknamed "Bull" would be convicted of attempted murder. Others believed that he would be released from custody in the courtroom. No one expected that both of them would happen. But Mr. Bykov, a boxer from Siberia, who came up with a businessman, is a remarkable person. And Russian legal proceedings are an amazing thing.

July 2, 2002. Some thought that Anatoly Bykov, nicknamed "Bull" would be convicted of attempted murder. Others believed that he would be released from custody in the courtroom. No one expected that both of them would happen. But Mr. Bykov, a boxer from Siberia, who came up with a businessman, is a remarkable person. And Russian legal proceedings are an amazing thing.

On June 18, the Moscow court issued Mr. Bykov a conviction of attempted attempting to kill his business companion, but sentenced him only conditionally. And now he is again in his hometown of Krasnoyarsk, where he once occupied a dominant position in business and in politics too. Having been released, Mr. Bykov confused all the cards on the eve of the election of the Krasnoyarsk governor scheduled for September 8. The former governor, General Alexander Lebed, died in April in a helicopter disaster. This week, Mr. Bykov claimed that he did not plan to run for himself. But, being the most popular son of this city, he has all the data in order to play the role of the "makeer of the kings." Fans compare him with Robin Hood, a robber-Philanthropist from the English legend. Others speak much less favorable about him.

Mr. Bykov came out of the criminalized outskirts of the Krasnoyarsk business world and took control of the largest enterprise of the city - the aluminum plant, which ranks second in Russia. Likewise, he succeeded in politics at the local level, taking a place in the Krasnoyarsk parliament, which still remains with him. All this ended when Mr. Bykov quarreled with Mr. Lebed. They began as allies, but everyone wanted to become a boss. The quarrel between them reached its climax 2 years ago, when Mr. Bykov ended up in a Moscow prison on charges of organizing an unsuccessful attack on another colorful Krasnoyarsk figure, Pasha, nicknamed the "color music", which he received for a nervous tic, forcing him to constantly blink his eyes. While Mr. Bykov was cooling behind bars in anticipation of the court, control over the aluminum plant passed into the hands of the Russian aluminum group, which today occupies the dominant position in the industry.

So far, applications for participation in the September elections of the Krasnoyarsk governor received from 25 candidates. Among them, Alexander the USS, speaker of the regional parliament, Alexander Khloponin, Governor of Taimyr, an autonomous region in the northern part of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Sergey Glazyev, a conservative economist, once close to Alexei Lebed, a native brother of the late governor, who today heads the regional government in the neighboring ethnic Republic of Khakassia. The Krasnoyarsk Territory would become a big prize for any applicant. This is the second largest subject of the Russian Federation. In the Northern Enclave, Taimyr is the Norilsk Nickel plant, one of the world's largest metallurgical enterprises. In the south of the region there are coal, hydropower and aluminum plants. The outcome of the upcoming elections will be of acute interest for the companies operating in the Krasnoyarsk Territory. Each of them supports its candidate, secretly or openly. It is no secret that the Norilsk Nickel hopes for the victory of Mr. Khloponin. Before he went into politics 2 years ago, he led the main enterprise of Norilsk Nickel. As for Russian aluminum, it is believed that he supports Mr. UPS, which leads in recent public opinion polls.

However, the return of Mr. Bykov can put Mr. USS in a delicate position. Mr. USS used to be on a friendly leg with Mr. Bykov. With the support of Mr. Bykov, he would most likely become invincible. But it is difficult to imagine that Mr. Bykov will enter into an alliance with the "Russian aluminum", taking into account that this company has taken its plant to its hands. Mr. Bykov takes time. This week he only said that he would more likely support the "local" candidate than a rogue from Moscow. He must also enjoy the stay of the house, in the circle of friends. “It is wonderful that he returned,” his neighbor was of his neighbor last week. “Now it’s clear to us what to do.”

Translation: Fedotov Victor, inosmi.ru
Published on the website inosmi.ru: 03 July 2002, 11:45
Original publication: Bull Returns to Add Spice to Russian Politics

“Bull” returns to add piquancy to Russian politics (“The Financial Times”, Great Britain)