Some Russian Oligarchs Are Speaking Out Against Vladimir Putin – Reports suggest that some of Russia’s most elite families and oligarchs are beginning to express their concern about President Vladimir Putin’s military offensive in Ukraine, signaling a divide in the country that was nowhere near as pronounced during the 2014 annexation of Ukraine.
Mikhail Fridman, the founder of Alfa Bank, the biggest private bank in Russia, was the first to indicate his concern about the war in Ukraine. In a memo to his staff at LetterOne, a private equity firm that he owns in London, England, Fridman said that he was “convinced” that war in Ukraine “can never be the answer.”
“I was born in Western Ukraine and lived there until I was 17. My parents are Ukrainian citizens and live in Lviv, my favourite city,” he told staff. “But I have also spent much of my life as a citizen of Russia, building and growing businesses. I am deeply attached to Ukrainian and Russian peoples and see the current conflict as a tragedy for them both.”
Fridman isn’t the only one, either.
The London Evening Standard on Monday published a statement from Evgeny Lebedev, the Russian-born owner of the newspaper, on the front page. Lebedev pleaded with Putin to end the war.
“President Putin, please stop this war,” the headline read. The newspaper also showed an image of a young girl who was killed by Russian bombs in Ukraine.
“As a Russian citizen, I plead with you to stop Russians killing their Ukrainian brothers and sisters,” he added.
Lebedev’s comments are significant not just because of his wealth, but because he is the son of former KGB agent Alexander Lebedev.
The two Russian businessmen were also joined by metals tycoon Oleg Deripaska and banker Oleg Tinkov in their criticism of Putin’s war campaign. On Monday, Tinkob posted a message to his Instagram page, stating that the war was unacceptable.
“Innocent people are dying in Ukraine now, every day, this is unthinkable and acceptable,” he wrote.
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Deripaska’s comments, however, are particularly notable as he has long been considered a close ally to the Russian president. On his Telegram channel – a social media-style feed powered by encrypted messaging service Telegram – Deripaska noted that “peace is very important” and that peace talks to end the violence should start “as soon as possible.”
So far, the condemnation of Putin’s actions from the wealthy elite in his country have not encouraged him to scale back his military action in Ukraine – but the pressure could well intensify as Russian elites are hit harder and harder by economic sanctions placed on them by the United States and Europe.
Already, sanctions placed on oligarchs in Russia have cost the wealthy elite in the country as much as $83 million – and that figure is likely to rise.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and report on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
from Russia with love
March 3, 2022 at 8:49 am
Fridman and Lebedev from London implore Putin to end the war? Was it funny for you to write this? :)))
I don’t know who killed Berezovsky, MI6 or just local bandits (although the difference is not big), but you can gut these two too. And don’t forget about Tinkov! 😉 he is also not in Russia.
Ab
March 3, 2022 at 9:29 am
You rich men could have spoken out the day that Navalny was put in jail only for speaking out his honest opinion. Did you saw the Chief Spy of Putin? He does not even dare to speak out his own opinion and fear makes him misadvice Putin and so is the Army, like Hitler, his generals do not dare to tell him that the Russian army is only excisting on paper.
Alex
March 3, 2022 at 8:48 pm
It’s just ridiculous when another author writes about Russia using Hollywood films and local propaganda.
Alex
March 5, 2022 at 4:48 am
This is the fifth article in a row that begins with the words “Putin has a problem …”. First, you should understand that the decision of the President of Russia was supported by the majority of Russian citizens. Secondly, if there are problems, then not with Putin personally, but with Russia. And thirdly, you can repeat mantras about Russia’s problems as much as you like, but Russia has always solved its problems, whether it is worth accepting, whether you want it or not.