Mikhail Khodorkovsky said in an interview with the BBC that he was expecting a large-scale civil war in Russia in the future.
"What is happening in Ukraine, is undoubtedly bad for Russia, as it strengthens the authoritarian regime in Russia and ruins the hopes of the progressive part of the society for the technological development of the country. But these events will strengthen the regime by uniting a considerable part of the population, although for other reasons, it was supposed to lose popularity.
"I believe that prospects for a democratic change of regime in Russia no longer exist, and the regime will fall with more or less blood. The situation will get worse with time. The country has already started paying in blood for the constant preservation of the regime. It is unclear whether the regime will change as a result of a palace coup, or we will live to see the large-scale civil conflict," said Khodorkovsky.
Previously, the ex-tycoon called on the Russian people to rise and rebel against the regime. Interestingly, Khodorkovsky gives all his pieces of advice to Russians while staying abroad. He refused to come to Russia even for his mother's funeral.
Not that long ago, Khodorkovsky announced that he was going to run for president of Russia, although his terrible anti-rating in Russia does not leave him a chance to win a democratic election.