Vladimir Putin

Rybkin's account to journalists in London was the third time he had tried to explain why he had gone off to Kiev on Feb. 5 without telling his wife or campaign aides, triggering a police manhunt, and what he did before he resurfaced Feb. 10.

On his return to Moscow, Rybkin, a harsh critic of President Vladimir Putin, said he had been with friends, but later said he had feared for his life and gone into hiding in the Ukrainian capital.

On Feb. 13, Rybkin said he had gone to a Kiev flat with some strangers who said he would be meeting Chechnya's fugitive President Aslan Maskhadov. He awoke after a time to find himself alongside two armed men who showed him and others in "disgusting" video films intended to compromise him.

"All my statements in recent days in Kiev and in Moscow do not reflect the reality, and were forced. I was trying to ensure the safety of my family and myself," he said.

Moscow media had reacted with incredulity to earlier explanations of his disappearance.

Rybkin said he would remain in western Europe until after the March 14 election to ensure the safety of his family.

"From today I am launching an election campaign from here, from abroad," he said.

The Japan Times Weekly: Feb. 21, 2004
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