Berezovsky Confirms Plans to Move to Kiev

LONDON, England -- Prominent and controversial Russian businessman Boris Berezovsky, who currently resides in London, confirmed his plans to move to Kiev in the near future in order to be closer to Moscow.

"Yes, I am going to move to Kiev because I will have to move to Moscow soon," Berezovsky told Interfax on Saturday.

"I am not going to run business in Ukraine, I am going to live in Kiev," he said.

Boris Berezovsky

Commenting on possible legal implications of this move, Berezovsky said, "I have been granted political asylum in Britain, and Ukraine is a signatory to relevant international documents. Therefore, if someone has questions about my arrival in Kiev, I am prepared to defend my rights together with my lawyers in court."

"I don't know what housing in Kiev costs now, but I think I can afford such a purchase," he said.

Berezovsky also confirmed that his wife had attended Viktor Yushchenko's presidential inauguration ceremony.

Asked whether he has lately been traveling to other countries, the businessman said he visits Israel once every two weeks.

As was reported earlier, Russian law enforcement agencies charged Berezovsky with a number of economic crimes and put him on the federal and international wanted lists. However, British judicial authorities found the accusations to be politically motivated and granted him political asylum.