Russia is 30-50 years behind advanced countries in industrial development, but there is still a chance to improve the situation. This opinion was expressed by Mikhail Khodorkovsky. The former head of YUKOS answered questions from listeners of the Ekho Moskvy radio station .

In particular, he spoke about his own vision of the situation in Russian industry. “The current state of Russian industry corresponds to the European one 30-50 years ago. It is possible to overcome such a backlog in 20-25 years,” noted the imprisoned entrepreneur.

According to him, the lag “can be made irreversible by the state of society.” “We are very close to national suicide. Attempts to preserve the empire instead of building a national legal state cost us very dearly. And they continue to make do,” stated the ex-head of YUKOS.

To develop the country, Khodorkovsky proposed inviting to Russia “everyone who identifies with Russian culture.” “It is necessary to change the environment, move to a European, pluralistic model with separation of powers and an influential opposition. Then we can count on the influx of a highly cultured population and the discovery of the talents of our compatriots for the benefit of our country. Today we are doing exactly the opposite, and educated people are fleeing,” he concluded.

At the same time, Khodorkovsky noted that the ban on the activities of foreign banks in Russia did not affect the development of the country. “I have never understood and will never understand the belief that foreigners will save us. This is our country, our responsibility and only we can solve our problems. And Western banks never chose the quota that was provided to them. So it’s a myth that some kind of ban on the activities of foreign banks prevented something,” the ex-head of YUKOS explained his position.

He expressed confidence that in modern Russia there is no longer an authoritative figure who can provide Vladimir Putin with reliable guarantees in the event that the prime minister and future participant in the presidential elections leaves power. According to Khodorkovsky, the country “faces a long period of stagnation, a political crisis and a revolutionary (I really hope it’s bloodless) change of power.” “Putin himself will not leave, and he will not prepare a real successor. The task of the liberal opposition is to defend the values of freedom and human rights during the years of stagnation, to mitigate the course and consequences of the revolution, to become an active and constructive part of the post-revolutionary coalition,” the entrepreneur concluded.

Khodorkovsky: Putin has passed the point of no return