Washington, Nov 05: US Senator John Mccain has warned that a growing authoritarianism in Russia -- as witnessed by the recent arrest of that country's most successful businessman -- could lead to a serious deterioration of relations between Washington and Moscow. "A creeping coup against the forces of democracy and market capitalism in Russia is threatening the foundation of the US-Russia relationship and raising the specter of a new era of cold peace between Washington and Moscow," Mccain said yesterday on the US Senate floor.

The Arizona Republican took special exception to the arrest last month by masked security agents of Russian businessman Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who has been accused of tax evasion, fraud, forgery, and embezzlement. "Khodorkovsky had committed what in the Kremlin's eyes is the worst crime of all -- supporting the political opposition to President (Vladimir) Putin," said Mccain, who chairs the Senate's Finance Committee, which oversees US and international business and regulatory matters.

"Such an alternative center of power could threaten the Kremlin's supreme political control," he said, noting that several other successful entrepreneurs have been forced into exile.

The arrest of Khodorkovsky, who has since stepped down as the dead of the Yukos oil concern, was seen in Russia as Kremlin retaliation for the tycoon's political opposition and has sparked concern among foreign investors about a wider campaign against big business. Bureau Report