Like this (from here):
The above happened in a very short period of time - about one year (aided and abetted by Covid) ...
Russia is off the map! That's incredible.Like this (from here):
The above happened in a very short period of time - about one year (aided and abetted by Covid) ...
Russia is off the map! That's incredible.
I have a feeling those billionnaires will soon be forced to count their billions in roubles.Russia is off the map! That's incredible.
I have a feeling those billionnaires will soon be forced to count their billions in roubles.
Last week, two more Russian oligarchs were found dead alongside their families within 48 hours of each other in alleged murder-suicides. They’re the latest of a series of high-profile Russians to die in mysterious circumstances in recent months.
It’s not the first time there have been reports about Russian officials dying suspiciously, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has long been known to take extreme measures to silence his opponents. In 2017, USA TODAY published an investigative report detailing at least 38 oligarchs who died or went missing over a three-year span.
In the early months of 2022, at least six prominent members of Russia’s upper class have been found dead under strange conditions.
In the Soviet era, all enterprises belonged to the state and were supposed to be equally owned among all citizens. Privatization transferred much of this wealth into the hands of a few, making them immensely rich. Stocks of the state-owned enterprises were issued, and these new publicly traded companies were quickly handed to the members of Nomenklatura or known criminal bosses. For example, the director of a factory during the Soviet regime would often become the owner of the same enterprise. During the same period, violent criminal groups often took over state enterprises, clearing the way by assassinations or extortion. Corruption of government officials became an everyday rule of life. Under the government's cover, outrageous financial manipulations were performed that enriched the narrow group of individuals at key positions of the business and government mafia. Many took billions in cash and assets outside of the country in an enormous capital flight.[6]
The largest state enterprises were controversially privatized by President Boris Yeltsin to insiders[7] for far less than they were worth.[2] Many Russians consider these infamous "oligarchs" to be thieves.[8] Through their immense wealth, the oligarchs wielded significant political influence.