bare zofski. he was one of russia s richest men who went on to be one of the most vocal critics much putin. anybody who knew him in the 1990s described him as driven and ambitious, not your average mathematician. he became one of the country s hated oligarchs, that small number of ruthless businessmen who quickly built enormous personal wealth, snapping up state resources cheaply as russia chaotically embraced capitalism. he also charmed, pestered and lobbied his way into the kremlin. becoming an influential political player. and as president borys yeltsin s health declined this is january of 2010 sfeeking to cnn just days after putin took over. i think that putin will