Saturday, August 29, 1998 Published at 14:39 GMT 15:39 UK
The power behind the throne
Some say Boris Berezovsky (right) is one of Boris Yeltsin's closest advisers
By News Online's Dominic Casciani
Amid the turmoil and chaos of the last few years, the long-suffering Russian people have found time to laugh at a television show that purports to show what really goes on behind the walls of the Kremlin.
It may be in jest, but for many people Mr Berezovsky and his ilk represent the true power behind the throne. They are the 'Oligarchs', the billionaires who control Russia's economy, the real power brokers.
Not only do they hold individual sway over vast swathes of industry formerly in the hands of the state, their power is such that they can command audiences with leading politicians. Mr Berezovsky himself is said to have been one of President Boris Yeltsin's closest confidantes.
The rise of these men, numbering no more than perhaps a dozen and all relatively young, began in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
As they bought up newly-privatised industries, in particular the media, their own interests began to move away from those of the Russian people and society.
Entire industries, which had been in the hands of the state, passed to individuals - accompanied with an unhealthy dose of political clout.
Mr Berezovsky is the most prominent of this new breed. He runs the main Russian television channel and is also Executive Secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States.
Rivals join forces
Despite being rivals in business, the oligarchs join forces when their own empires are threatened.
After bankrolling his election campaign, they were seemingly allowed to buy up some of Russia's most lucrative industries cheaply.
But as the government considered introducing more reforms - including forcing large companies to pay their taxes - their aims changed.
Open competition, regulation and an invitation to western business to buy into Russia was a threat to their power.
Despite offering strong support to Boris Yeltsin just six months ago, the country's key business leaders are now thought to be hell-bent on seeing him fall.
The alleged plot
Mr Yeltsin is said to have brought Sergei Kiriyenko into the Kremlin to crack heads and reign in the Oligarchs.
Mr Kiriyenko is said to have totally alienated the powerful financial backers of the president.
At the same time, the ousted Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin, spent his five months out of office making friends with high business.
Eventually the president came under too much pressure and Mr Kiriyenko had to go.
There is now talk that Mr Berezovsky will enter Viktor Chernomyrdin's cabinet.
If the new prime minister wants to become president, he will need a lot of money to finance a campaign - the kind of money the Oligarchs may just be able to offer.
It may sound far-fetched, but for many ordinary Russians the scenario of a dirty deal between monopolistic businesses and a small cabal of politicians has more than a grain of truth to it.
And Mr Berezovsky's own words have done little to quieten down the voices of concern.
Asked who should be the next president he said: "Concerning my understanding of what will be best for Russia if the election was today - I think Chernomyrdin."