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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Boris Berezovsky Shows Interest in Ukrainian Blackjacks

13 November, 2012 - 00:00

By Serhiy ZGURETS, The Day
Former CIS Executive Secretary and invincible Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky's
traditionally semi-incognito visit to Kyiv last week resulted in the appearance
of yet another rumor.

 Not just hearsay but a very impressive claim: Mr. Berezovsky is
said to have shown an interest in the Tu-160 strategic bombers deployed
in Ukraine, subject to long-standing bargaining between the military in
both countries.

Two weeks ago, Russian news agencies, referring to reliable bureaucratic
sources, announced that Moscow is inclined to resuming negotiation on transferring
the aircraft (a total of 18 Tu-160 and Tu-95ms bombers). If true, Mr. Berezovsky's
interest would look quite logical, except for his alleged "personal interest"
in Su-160s.

"The offensive weapons reduction agreement, under which Ukraine is to
rid itself of TU-160 and TU-95ms heavy bombers, does not provide for three
such bombers to become private property. However, the document has clauses
stipulating certain procedures whereby these bombers can be converted into
refueling planes or flying radio laboratories," The Day was told
by the Defense Ministry's department responsible for monitoring "strategic"
agreements and the disarmament process. As for Mr. Berezovsky's alleged
intent, he might as well offer to buy an ICBM. True, the three bombers
in question could become museum exhibits, but there is still no information
about his interest in collecting items of this size.

Also, a Defense Ministry ranking officer said, strictly off the record,
that Berezovsky is not given to wasting his breath. It is generally known
that as Leonid Kuchma's protОgО he is anxious to know how the presidential
campaigners are doing their job. This and his being friends with the current
President perhaps make his conduct in Ukraine so confident.

At one time Moscow and Kyiv negotiated an arrangement whereby Russia
would trade Tu-160s for Tu-type airliners. At the time Kyiv though the
deal was not good enough. First, the ration did not seem right: one civilian
aircraft for two warplanes. Second, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry insisted
on a purely military barter, since there were practically no spare parts
left for the MIG-29 and Su-27 fighters.

Boris Berezovsky is known to have close contacts with Aeroflot, yet
he adamantly rejects any personal interest in the business (although the
Russian Prosecutor tried to build his case against the oligarch precisely
on that basis). Considering that the terms of exchange of the Ukrainian
Blackjack bombers are still to be determined, the Aeroflot trail against
the Tu-160 background looks quite possible.

 

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