Kremlin-linked oligarchs in London

Dinahmo the resort islands of The Maldives are definitely not dry. The capital Male and Huhumale are dry.

GG13 Apparently those Russians brought up in the Soviet era support Putin - they believe everything he says. The younger ones don't because they access social media and see a different viewpoint.

Don't forget that millions of older Russians were former peasants. They liked life in the Soviet era because they received wages from the state. Once the USSR was broken up, that financial support disappeared.

On another note, the French customs seized a yacht worth 120,000,000 euros belonging to Igor Sechin, head of an energy company. It was in for repair and the officers spent several hours watching before they seized it last night. Apparently it was under orders to leave even thought the repairs weren't complete.

The French also seized a cargo ship in Marseille on Sunday.

The super yachts are headed for the Maldives which doesn't have any extradition treaties. Most of the islands are Muslim and dry so the owners are in for a boring time!

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Whitewavemark2

Yes I reiterate what volver has said.

If it spreads to the balkans we have to reassess our attitude to Russians living in the U.K. particularly if we take into our decision the fact of Putin’s propaganda warfare since 2014.

Our good friends have a son who’s fiancé is Russian, she stayed in the U.K. after University. She is no more a threat to U.K. society than anyone else.

Yes I reiterate what volver has said.

If it spreads to the balkans we have to reassess our attitude to Russians living in the U.K. particularly if we take into our decision the fact of Putin’s propaganda warfare since 2014.

volver

Russia = country, nationality, represents the aggressor in a war. A real actual war.

Muslim = religion, not limited to one nation. Many terrorists are Muslims. Many aren't. Maybe your next door neighbour is a Muslim.

It's hard sometimes, isn't it?

How did you know that my next door neighbours are Muslim?

They have become extremely good friends in the 20 years they have lived there.

Russia = country, nationality, represents the aggressor in a war. A real actual war.

Muslim = religion, not limited to one nation. Many terrorists are Muslims. Many aren't. Maybe your next door neighbour is a Muslim.

It's hard sometimes, isn't it?

Whitewavemark2 when you are at war all Russians are potential 5th columnists

We have been at war with multiple Muslim Countries for the best part of 20 years, are you saying that all Muslims are potential terrorists?

I do feel uncomfortable that the West is slipping into a form of Russiaphobia
It’s President Putin and his inner circle that are a fault, the regular Russian citizens and the young unprepared soldiers are subjected to propaganda and unless guilty of a crime against the West should not be tarred with Putins evil brush.

Thanks you for replying Freya5.

I think we all just have to be vigilant; what did it for me is that the website is down on all platforms; their twitter is full of giveaway comments about liberals "whining" and "melting down"; the phrase "climate extremist" is used about an environmentalist. A lot of talking about "leftist elites".

volver

Freya5

So the Centre for American Progress , a liberal think tank , associated with President Obama. Has links with anti semetism, hiding their own paymasters behind a wall of anonymity , truly progressive, well of course as long as it’s British bashing. I agree there is a serious problem with some Russians and Russian money in this country, but pot kettle etc.
buyingbias.org/tag/center-for-american-progress/

So.

I can't access the buyingbias page, maybe its been taken offline.

Which would be understandable, seeing as its affiliated with the right wing "Media Research Center" in the US, which has about as much to do with research as the ERG do.

They are pro-Trump, conservative climate deniers and use the word "liberal" as an insult.

So I probably won't trust what they say, thanks.

With what's going on in the world there should be a concerted effort to call out propaganda and misinformation.

Yes definitely I apologise for feeding you what I thought was a real web site. How do you check it is not. Still Wiki is about the only other place I can find any information about this organisation.

Of course not all Russians are crooks, but if this war continues and spreads to the Balkans, then we have to be realistic.

During the last war, ask yourself what we did to apparent innocent Germans.

We can’t be naive, not all Russians are evil, but when you are at war, all Russians are potential 5th columnists.

Freya5

So the Centre for American Progress , a liberal think tank , associated with President Obama. Has links with anti semetism, hiding their own paymasters behind a wall of anonymity , truly progressive, well of course as long as it’s British bashing. I agree there is a serious problem with some Russians and Russian money in this country, but pot kettle etc.
buyingbias.org/tag/center-for-american-progress/

So.

I can't access the buyingbias page, maybe its been taken offline.

Which would be understandable, seeing as its affiliated with the right wing "Media Research Center" in the US, which has about as much to do with research as the ERG do.

They are pro-Trump, conservative climate deniers and use the word "liberal" as an insult.

So I probably won't trust what they say, thanks.

With what's going on in the world there should be a concerted effort to call out propaganda and misinformation.

GG says not all Russians are bad. Maizie answers ‘just most of them’.

She didn't say that 'not all Russians are bad'. Do read posts properly before leaping in to challenge them.

And I really don't need lectures on who to like and who to dislike.

GG says not all Russians are bad. Maizie answers ‘just most of them’.
I would like to see your evidence Maizie. What a horrible thing to say about an oppressed and frightened people.
Some Russians surrounding Putin are bad. Most are ordinary folk like us but living in fear.
Some wealthy Russians are good guys too. The Independent reported yesterday that Russian businessman Alex Konanykhin had offered $1million reward on Putins head to anyone who arrested him.

So the Centre for American Progress , a liberal think tank , associated with President Obama. Has links with anti semetism, hiding their own paymasters behind a wall of anonymity , truly progressive, well of course as long as it’s British bashing. I agree there is a serious problem with some Russians and Russian money in this country, but pot kettle etc.
buyingbias.org/tag/center-for-american-progress/

Grany

Scottish watchdog looks into Russian donation to Prince Charles charity

Why. It is already being looked into.

Allsorts

I heard he was giving everything back to Chelsea. I am no fan of these Oligarch’s and the system that promotes them, it’s obscene, but I suppose they have family in Russia who could be in danger if they openly criticise Putin. He is a madman and very vengeful and unpredictable, in the end family are what matters. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect mine.
How can China bail out every Oligarch and for what reason? If China backs Putin all the way it’s even worse than I thought. Ever since the invasion I have felt ill with it, I don’t think I can watch any more, there’s nothing I can do except help financially. Poland have been so loving and helpful, good versus evil.

News seems to be changing frequently but Roman Abramovich is hoping to sell Chelsea FC. The club owes him £1.5b which he will not asked to be repaid and any profit made on the sale of the club will go to help Ukraine. He also has his London properties up for sale. I also read that China, despite appearing all chummy in a recent photograph with Putin, are distancing themselves from the current situation. I haven't seen anything about China bailing out the oligarchs but if true it will be money reasons behind it, I should imagine.

Not all rich Russians are crooks.

Just most of them... supporters of post Perestroika regimes who were allowed to appropriate highly profitable sections of Russian industry and infrastructure.

Strangely enough, when investigated an awful lot seem to have rather opaque connections with the Putin regime.

This is all tied in with the worship of wealth as an end in itself which we were discussing not so long ago.

Pritti Patel should strip Russian oligarchs of UK citizenship and deport them.

Just been watching Simon Reeves in Russia, on iplayer. It was made in 2017 but is particularly interesting now, viewed with hindsight. Episode 3 particularly. Our govt is giving the oligarchs time to sell up in the uk and get their money out, we should be freezing their assets to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine

Launched in 2008, the “tier 1 investor visa” programme allowed people with at least £2m in investment funds and a UK bank account to apply for residency rights, along with their family. The speed with which applicants were allowed to get indefinite leave to remain was hastened by how much money they planned to invest in the UK: £2m took five years, while £10m shortened the wait to just two.

Investing in the UK, investing in business is one thing, buying a seat in the House of Lords is quite another.

Mr.Abramovich purchased Chelsea FC from Mr. Bates in 2003.

Labour were in power, I thought it was them that instigated the Golden Visa Scheme

Any of the oligarchs linked to President Putin who have family in Russia would be extremely foolish to publicly condemn his actions in Ukraine. It would be tantamount to putting a price on their families heads

Not all rich Russians are crooks.

Surely anything done before the invasion is not really a problem. It just needs to be dealt with now. Otherwise its a bit hypocritical to put in sanctions. I can never understand why any country lets themselves be infiltrated financially without at least putting something in place to deal with this sort of thing.

once again Johnson dragging his feet allowing his russian friends to salt away their money, but what do you expect from a liar and a cheat. He thinks we will forget the partygate and have short memories but no. Once this appalling situation is sorted we will be back to sort him out. Once we have someone whose word is to be trusted we might have the chance to make some sensible decisions . At the moment our thoughts are concentrated on Ukraine and how to help them. We see the shining example of their president , a politician that honours the name and cares more for his country than his life. Thank goodness we can see what a trustworthy politician looks like.

A lawyer whose clients are Russian oligarchs said on the Today program on Radio 4 this morning, that up until the point that sanctions are applied to them, they are free to move their money out of the country. Perhaps that is why BJ is being slow to name some of his Russian supporters.