Berezovsky had from the outset argued that government shouldheed the call of the barons. But Yeltsin got so tired of Berezovsky’smaneuvering that he threatened to banish him from the country.Yeltsin’s choice of Kiriyenko, a progressive young banker, toreplace Chernomyrdin as prime minister last March — a move thatdisregarded Berezovsky’s choices — did little to salve the wounds.Kiriyenko distanced himself from the tycoons, and, at the outset,would not even meet them.
After the Russian markets were severely jolted in May, theRussian business magnates grew more restive. They met with Yeltsinand appealed for quick action to stem the country’s worseningeconomic problems. Later, they announced their willingness toform a special advisory council to Kiriyenko, but the idea fellflat.
