The Economist gives oligarch Melnichenko the floor
Oligarch Andrey Melnichenko, one of the wealthiest men in Russia with vast holdings in the fertiliser and energy sectors, has given an in-depth interview to The Economist. The British magazine also published an opinion piece by Melnichenko with the title: "Why a broken Russia is bad for the world". The media are divided over how to interpret this.
Dictated by the Kremlin
Õhtuleht says The Economist has fallen into a Russian propaganda trap:
“Do the editors of what is supposedly one of the world's most prestigious publications really not realise that every statement made by Russian billionaires is dictated by the Kremlin? ... The publication of a rambling, endless text bearing the byline of a certain Melnichenko is a triumph of incompetence on the part of The Economist's editorial team – they lack any understanding of what is happening in Russia right now. Nevertheless, the text attributed to the Russian oligarch is quite revealing. It indicates a growing sense of panic in the Kremlin. The initiative in the conflict is increasingly shifting towards Ukraine.”
He doesn’t want Russia to be bled dry
The article is really aimed at the West, journalist Yelizaveta Osetinskaya counters in a Telegram post republished by Echo:
“These are more the musings of a man who simply cannot come to terms with his defeat. The West has always viewed the oligarchs as part of the Russian system and continues to do so, and the sanctions have effectively locked Melnichenko in the country for the long term, where everything can also be taken away from him. There is no trace of rebellion here. ... Melnichenko is trying to convince the West that continuing a war of attrition against Russia is counterproductive: a secure Russia can only be a strong and sovereign one.”
Saving sovereignty as the top priority
In a Facebook post, political scientist Abbas Gallyamov sees the article and interview as an appeal to Russians to save their country:
“Exactly one day before the article was published, Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated that all the objectives of the 'special operation' would be achieved. What Melnichenko writes casts doubt on Lavrov's statements: what 'tasks of the special operations' remain when the agenda includes the question of Russia's disintegration or its vassal-like dependence on China? According to Melnichenko's account, the country faces DEFENSIVE tasks: the preservation of its sovereignty. It follows that anything that contributes to the preservation of sovereignty is good, and anything that stands in the way of it is bad. ... The merit of the article lies in the fact that it debunks the emotional rhetoric on which the entire 'patriotic' discourse is based.”