Garry Kasparov was born in the USSR in 1963, and was world chess champion from 1985 to 1993. In 2015 he released the anti-Putin book, “Winter is coming”. This native of Baku became an ardent political opponent of Vladimir Putin, participated in the presidential campaign in 2008 and founded an opposition party “Solidarity” with former Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov. In 2013, he said that he would not return to Russia for fear that it may delay or even kill (such a fate befell Nemtsov February 27, 2015 in Moscow). Now he tells us about Putin’s “system,” the plans of the Kremlin and its arm in the West the 40th floor of a skyscraper in Manhattan.
Le Figaro: 2017 begins with dark omens, as in the US and in Europe. What threats do you see for the West, whose foundations are now shaken?
Garry Kasparov: 2017 will be a historic transition year as 1917. This centennial anniversary of the capture of power by the Bolsheviks in Russia, the overthrow of the Romanovs and the start of big change. In France and Germany need to pass a crucial election. Chancellor Angela Merkel will become the target of fierce attacks. Russian special services try to discredit her and will utilize all resources. Cyber attacks will be released on a far larger scale compared to what it was in the United States.
— You say that the world creates a problem for Russia, and Vladimir Putin. He was really trying to intervene in US presidential election?
— The problem is really not in Russia, and Putin. And he wasn’t expected to win trump. First he took him for a clown. When trump started to climb in ratings, Putin still thought he would lose because, as he said himself trump, elections unfair. In any case, Putin thought that he could discredit the American political system. Today, American democracy has faced the most severe test since the war for independence. But I believe in its ability again to stand at the head of the free world.
— Vladimir Putin is actually planning a new military campaign after Crimea, Eastern Ukraine and Syria?
— In theory, no, because he is a product of the KGB. For covert operations it is always preferable to the massive bombing. To blackmail, not to kill people. Wreak havoc. His only strategy for political survival. Every dictator needs to show strength to show their own invincibility. The question is not whether Putin is a new attack, and where and when. He wants to show that America is weak and NATO is a paper tiger. But he sees the border he is stopped in Ukraine because he doesn’t want the blood marsh, which would become “his” Afghanistan. He is not planning attacks on the Baltic States out of fear of NATO. Deployed hundreds of American soldiers. Therefore, in 2014, it promotes the figures for other areas.
— So he made a bid for Syria?
— Yes, and it was a stroke of genius: he knew that interference on the side of Damascus will affect Europe, increasing the flow of refugees. With one shot he killed two or three birds with one stone: challenged America has shown the weakness of Obama’s, helped the Syrian and Iranian ally, and favor European ultra-right who got new arguments for his anti-immigration rhetoric.
— Some voices in Europe calling to consider Putin as an objective ally the face of jihadist threats. What do you think?
Is a deceptive but attractive rhetoric, which easily resonates. But, as I said, Vladimir Putin began operation in Syria not for the sake of the fight against “Islamic state” (banned in Russia as a terrorist organization — approx.ed.). The jihadists are only 10% of Russian attacks. The remaining 90% directed against the Syrian opposition, which is supported by Western countries. In Europe there is a kind of ideological corruption against Putin: it is necessary to have a dialogue, because Russia “cannot be ignored”. It is a form of reconciliation. Why think about the “small” Nations like the Baltic States? It is a betrayal of the idea of Europe, which is based on respect for the rule of law. It is a moral capitulation. History tells us that dictators never stop. They have to stop others.
— How Putin intends to interact with the administration of the tramp?
— He took the fence. Unknown too many. If the Senate approves Rex Tillerson (Rex Tillerson) for the post of Secretary of state? The Minister of defence James Mattis (James Mattis) does not share the admiration of the new President Putin. Congress agitated the question of cyber-attacks. It all turns Putin into the limelight, and he, believe me, this does not need. Besides, he knows that as soon as trump will change his attitude, 100% of Americans will turn against Russia. The question is, how far is trump willing to go with this approach.
— How to fight back “attack” Putin?
— “Follow the money trail”, — said Deep throat (the informant of The Washington Post in the Watergate scandal) and find sources of Finance. Anyway, we must start with acceptance of the fact that we are talking about the war and that you become the target of attack. Now the problem for Putin is a unified European front, which are Germany and, to a lesser extent, France. His eyes turned to Paris (he thinks he can easily influence the elections there) and Berlin, the last real stronghold of European counter it. Take the channel Russia Today, which has become a key tool of propaganda and spreading false information. Start with its ban, to eliminate propaganda. This would be a good start.
— You sharply criticized American officials who say they always knew the danger of Putin, but began to speak about this after his resignation, like former Secretary of state Condoleezza rice (Condoleezza Rice).
Yes, Obama will certainly write in his memoirs that “always knew”! It should be noted that all this time Russia was not among his priorities. Only here for the last few months there have been more stories about Russia and the KGB than in the last 25 years! New fact that Donald trump has ties with Moscow. He received a massive infusion of Russian money at the critical moment, in 2008-2009, that saved him from bankruptcy. His son openly admitted (September 15, 2008 in The New York Times). How much money it needs foreign regimes, some of which are openly hostile stance towards the United States? Why he refuses to release his tax returns? He has yet to answer all these questions.
