MOSCOW, October 22 (RIA Novosti) - Jailed Yukos founder Mikhail Khodorkovsky said in an interview published on Thursday that he has no plans to go into politics after his release from prison.
"I am not a politician nor do I intend to become one. There are other ways of serving the people," he said in answer to questions sent in by readers of Gazeta.ru.
The founder of the now defunct oil company was arrested six years ago on fraud, tax evasion and other charges. He has consistently said the charges against him were a politically motivated revenge for his support of Russia's opposition.
Khodorkovsky, who was once Russia's richest man, also said he has "no interest" in returning to business.
"I was a good manager of the economy and the social sphere amid crisis conditions. If I can at some point be of use to my country in this area, then.... But let's not speculate. Today I am a prisoner, no more no less."
He criticized President Dmitry Medvedev's modernization program as a farce and an attempt to preserve "tandemocracy", referring to the tandem of power shared by Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin since May 2008.
He accused Medvedev of trying to modernize Russia without dismantling its authoritarian system.
Medvedev "is merely playing the role of a 'good cop' in a show called Russian Tandemocracy in a bid to win the sympathies of the Russian public" as an alternative to those who dislike Putin, Khodorkovsky said.
Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev, who have been serving eight-year sentences since 2006, are facing fresh embezzlement and money laundering charges.
The new charges deal with the theft of government shares and the laundering of money earned from illegal oil sales, in total worth about $50 billion. If convicted, the two could see their jail terms extended by 21 years.
