Russian exiled billionaire Boris Berezovsky said Friday that he was planning a revolution in Russia to overthrow President Vladimir Putin.

“We need to use force to change this regime,” Berezovsky, who has received asylum in Britain, was quoted as saying by Reuters.

“It isn’t possible to change this regime through democratic means. There can be no change without force, pressure.”

Asked if he was fomenting a revolution, he said: “You are absolutely correct.”

Berezovsky, who was in contact with members of Russia’s political elite, said some of them shared his opinion that Putin was eroding democratic reforms, centralizing power and infringing Russia’s constitution.

“If one part of the political elite disagrees with another part of the political elite — that is the only way in Russia to change the regime. I try to move that.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov condemned the comments as a criminal offence and hoped they would prompt questions about Berezovsky’s refugee status in Britain.

“In accordance with our legislation his remarks are being treated as a crime. It will cause some questions from the British authorities to Berezovsky,” Peskov was quoted as saying.

“We want to believe that official London will never grant asylum to someone who wants to use force to change the regime in Russia,” he said.

Last month, Berezovsky met Russian investigators in London to answer questions over the killing of former security agent Alexander Litvinenko. He has also launched a $US500,000 foundation in honor of Litvinenko who was poisoned and died in London last November.

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