BATTLE OF THE BANKERS

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In the current struggle between the business tycoons and the government, three figures stand out: Boris Berezovsky, one of the world's richest men; media magnate Vladimir Gusinsky; and one of the youngest bankers, Vladimir Potanin, who has aligned himself with Chubais. Of these, perhaps the most controversial is Berezovsky, 51, the billionaire entrepreneur who has survived assassination attempts and unproved murder accusations to become a shadowy influence in the Yeltsin entourage. Once an academic specializing in the theory of computerized management systems, Berezovsky was recently ranked 97th in Forbes' listing of the world's 200 richest people, with wealth estimated at $3 billion. After starting his business career selling cars in the late '80s, he quickly built an empire that includes substantial interests in oil, the airline Aeroflot, luxury cars and banking. Berezovsky has major investments in several of the country's main newspapers as well as Russia's largest TV network, ORT. Nominally state-owned, ORT has received funding from Berezovsky and is said to have been run by a longtime Berezovsky associate.

According to Berezovsky, the formula for political power is simple: power equals brains, money and people. And, he adds modestly, "we are the only ones in Russia who have all three." By "we" he means himself and his fellow financiers and entrepreneurs. Berezovsky admits to a love for the south of France, Corsica, beautiful women and Formula One motor racing. He keeps his home life a secret, though he is known to have five children ranging in age from about 25 to one year.

After his Mercedes car was blown up in 1994 by a remote-controlled bomb, Berezovsky left the country for a while and took Israeli citizenship. He gave that up last year when he was appointed deputy secretary of the national security council, a position that gives him access to defense and security policymakers. Berezovsky firmly believes in the old communist teaching that oligarchic elites run countries. The trick, he explains, is to identify them and win them over. Thus he has used former Reagan mediameister Mike Deaver as a public relations consultant in the U.S. and has actively courted such movers and shakers as former Assistant Secretary of State Dick Holbrooke. At home he has forged a close working relationship with Yeltsin's daughter and the President's chief of staff.

While Berezovsky has taken the lead in the conflict with Chubais and Potanin, he has been supported by Gusinski, another member of the business oligarchy. Gusinsky, 46, started out as a theater director in the provinces, worked on Ted Turner's Goodwill Games and gradually moved into business, making his Most Bank a major name in Russian finance. His personal fortune is estimated at $400 million. Recently he has concentrated his attention on his media empire, which includes the major TV channel, NTV; a radio station; the newsmagazine Itogi and one of Russia's main dailies, Segodnya. Gusinsky spends a good part of his time in Spain and London. When in Moscow he is said to live in an elegant estate on the edge of the city. With wealth and influence comes danger. Like the other members of the Russian business elite, Gusinsky never moves without a security entourage. When he plays tennis on weekends, as many as 15 armed guards patrol the courts.