Khodorkovsky suggests ambitious modernization program for Russia. Former Yukos owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky, currently serving an eight-year prison term in Eastern Siberia, has proved that he intends to continue his political activities. "It is generally believed that dozens and hundreds of Russian politicians are dreaming of becoming President in 2008 in order to control Gazprom, Rosneft, arms exports and imports, as well as the three main national television channels," Khodorkovsky writes. According to Khodorkovsky, this reflects the modern Russian political elite`s parasitic mentality. The country`s elite wants only to receive something tangible from Russia. "Those people, who will be ready to govern Russia two-and-a-half or three years from now, must understand that a parasitic approach no longer works, because the country is not competitive, and because the Soviet-era `safety margin` has been depleted," the former oligarch claims. Russia would face problems including worn-out national infrastructure, a demographic crisis and an all-out defense industry crisis by 2008. Some of its engineering sectors - mostly, the aircraft industry, machine tool and farming-machinery production - will likely be paralyzed. Moscow would virtually lose control over the North Caucasus. To this can be added the demise of our Armed Forces and paralyzed law-enforcement agencies. Khodorkovsky believes that a new and responsible elite must take over, after Vladimir Putin steps down in line with the Constitution. That elite must view state power as long-term and unrewarding development (at least at the initial stages), rather than as all-out division and re-division. The future ruling elite`s political and economic program would take 12 years to implement. This would become possible only if Russia chooses a different state-political model, and if it evolves into a presidential-parliamentary republic. Under such a system, the President would act as a moral leader and guarantee national unity. He would also serve as Commander-in-Chief, directly heading law-enforcement structures. Moreover, he would be responsible for the creation of a foreign policy concept. The State Duma would form the Government, which would assume responsibility for all social and economic issues. The Government would also report directly to the nation`s Parliament. Kommersant