The Russian oligarch who was once Russia’s wealthiest man but was jailed for a decade after trying to take on corruption and Russian President Vladimir Putin is breaking his silence.  Mikhail Khodorkovsky says he would lead Russia if the purpose where to spearhead major reforms.

“I would not be interested in the idea of becoming president of Russia at a time when the country would be developing normally,” Khordorkovsky told France’s Le Monde newspaper.  “But if it appeared necessary to overcome the crisis and to carry out constitutional reform, the essence of which would be to redistribute presidential powers in favor of the judiciary, parliament and civil society, then I would be ready to take on this part of the task.”

Khodorkovsky was convicted on fraud charges in 2003, shortly after his “Open Russia” political reform group made moves against Vladimir Putin, and his Yukos oil company was dissolved.  His pardon last year was widely viewed as a public relations ploy to boost Russia’s image before the Sochi Olympics. 

At the time, Khordorkovsky said he had no interest in challenging Putin.  But after a year living in Switzerland, that has changed, and “Open Russia” is coming back.

“I expect him to be upset,” Khodorkovsky said of the Russian President’s potential reaction.

Khodorkovsky sees Russia on the verge of bloody disintegration if it continues under Putin’s autocratic rule.  Putin has consolidated power in the hands of a tight circle of supporters and control the media.  An opposition movement, in theory, could be run out of Khordorkovsky’s Alpine home base.  But the road ahead is fraught with dangers.  At some point, he has to come back to Russia, where another set of trumped-up charges likely awaits.