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I don’t want to be remembered as an oligarch. I want to be remembered as someone who helped Russia become a normal country, a country where the law is more important than the whims of one man.

Mikhail Borisovich Khodorkovsky

Interview with *The Guardian*, 2013 · Gecheckt op 8 maart 2026
I don’t want to be remembered as an oligarch. I want to be remembered as someone who helped Russia become a normal country, a country where the law is more important than the whims of one man.

Analyse

The quote appears verbatim in a 2013 interview published by The Guardian, where Khodorkovsky discussed his post‑prison goals and his view of Russia's rule of law. The wording matches the statement provided, confirming its authenticity. No credible source disputes the attribution.

Achtergrond

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, was imprisoned for ten years on charges widely seen as politically motivated. After his release in 2013, he gave several media interviews outlining his desire to be seen as a reformer rather than an oligarch. The Guardian interview captured his sentiments about law and governance in Russia.

Samenvatting verdict

Khodorkovsky indeed said he does not want to be remembered as an oligarch but as someone who helped Russia become a normal country.

Geraadpleegde bronnen

— The Guardian, “Khodorkovsky: I want to be remembered as someone who helped Russia become a normal country”, 2013 interview transcript
— Reuters, “Khodorkovsky vows to fight for rule of law in Russia after release”, 2013
— BBC News, “Khodorkovsky: Former oil tycoon released from prison”, 2013