The Man Who Knew Too Much

48 Hours Mystery Reports On Murder Of U.S. Journalist In Moscow

(CBS)  Berezovsky sued for libel. But instead of backing down, Klebnikov turned the article into a book, "Godfather of the Kremlin," one that did even more damage to the tycoon's reputation.

Years later, to settle the libel suit, Forbes was forced to acknowledge in print: "There is no evidence that Berezovsky was responsible for this or any other murder." Today, Berezovsky still views that case as a triumph over Klebnikov: "I proved in English court that he's a bad journalist."

But despite their long feud, Berezovsky dismisses any suggestion he could be involved in a contract hit - saying it's just another outrageous lie. "It's again the reason why I decide to give this interview," says Berezovsky. "Maybe this [will] help to understand better reality."

In Russia, understanding reality, and seeing beyond the surface, is never simple. The real answers to this crime may lie not in what Klebnikov already had written, but rather in what he was working on - a new project, in a place known as a killing ground.

The mystery of who ordered Klebnikov killed, and why, still haunts his family.

"Writing the truth or speaking the truth ought not to be rewarded with assassination," says Michael Klebnikov. "All of us started recalling conversations or hints of conversations. He was extremely careful about what he said, how he said it. He was very, very careful."

But never so careful as to shy away from treacherous territory, like Togliatti, home to the country's car industry and possibly the key to Klebnikov's death.

The industry, he told an interviewer, was the most criminalized in all of Russia, "drenched," he said, "in blood."