
The mystery surrounding the disapearance of Russian presidential candidate
Ivan Rybkin, a former speaker of Parliament and strong critic of President Vladimir Putin, has deepened with the launch -- and then cancellation -- of
a murder probe.
Rybkin is a supporter of negotiations with Chechen separatists, an idea Putin vehemently rejected just last Friday following a subway bombing blamed
on Chechen terrorists.
More (CNN)
Last week, in an open letter published in the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Rybkin accused Putin of being "the biggest oligarch in Russia."
"I am convinced Putin has no right to power in Russia ... and we have no right to be silent about it," Rybkin wrote.
He also accused the president of being allied with forces trying to control Russian business.
Putin did not answer the charges...
Or maybe Putin
did answer...
Russia Journal
[Edited on 9-2-2004 by Kano]