Former head of Moscow FSB warns Russia could lose territory to China

His forecast of China grabbing Russian land in the country's Far East came in a TV interview soon after his resignation last week as head of Russia's Coordination Council on Intellectual Property Protection. Previously, Savostyanov served as head of Moscow FSB and deputy chief of the Kremlin staff.

Asked by Rain TV on his forecast for the future, he replied: 'Sadly I suppose that around years 2022-2024 more territories will fall off Russia.

'And I am afraid that it will be happening around the peripheries of the country under the influence of our rising dependence on China.'

He did not specify which territory he meant but made clear he was critical of the direction Russia has taken in the past year, apparently referring to actions in Crimea and Ukraine. 

'My forecast is rather a sad one,' he said. 'I am not even sure if I should voice it - for fear of spoiling people's moods. I am afraid that beginning from March 2014 we have determined the destiny of our country for a long time. On one hand, this destiny will be about economic and technological downfall, and on the other on our rising dependency on China. This dependency might turn into a truly dominant one.'

He fears China exploiting a switch which has seen Russia angle its trade towards Beijing and away from Western countries which have imposed sanctions on Moscow. 

'I know just too well how good China can exploit it,' he said. 'These days we have literally cut ourselves off from the Northern - or Western - civilisation.'

Relations with the US and UK are spoilt for a very long time, he claimed. 'The USA and Great Britain - as well as ourselves - were guarantors of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Right now they are in the situation of states that defaulted on their promises. 

'They can't forgive it and close their eyes to it. This is different to what has been going on with the Baltic states. Even though they never de jure submitted to the Soviet Union's annexation of the territories, de facto they kept quiet because they never gave any guarantees to the Baltic states. 

'The situation is very different here, as both the USA and UK feel humiliated because they failed to deliver of their guarantees, and continue doing so. 

'As it is clear that the situation is irreversible, this will have a very long term and a very negative effect on Russian-American and Russian-British - and overall on Russian-Western - relations.'

The former official was long seen as a liberal with noted pro-Western views, and his opinions are unlikely to be shared by many ex-colleagues. The Kremlin argues that the new situation gives Russia the motivation to rebuild its economy to reduce its dependence on the outside world. 

But Savostyanov claimed: 'Take the  example of a girl before she gets married. Everyone praises her and desires her while she is still single. As soon as she gets married everyone turns their backs on her, except of course for her husband.'

He warned: 'The Chinese are people with a different feeling of time. As Ghengiz Khan said: 'Time always worked in favour of the Chinese, and will always work in favour of the Chinese. We ourselves took certain steps which made China almost a one and only partner for us, and I know too well how well China can exploit it.'

In resigning last week, he blasted Russia's culture minister Vladimir Medinsky as he resigned from this ministry's board and public council. 

'The reason for this decision is the stance that you and the Culture Ministry have taken on a range of important matters of public interests, as well as some of your public statement and remarks for which I am ashamed,' he wrote.