Oligarchs, the partner of Putin’s ex-finance Minister & the secret Tory Advisory Beard to Johnson
A focus on one particular variant of Oligarchs, Russians(there are many others) is in the news because of the situation in Ukraine. Chris Bryant MP in one of his more measured contributions raised in the Commons that as there is no register of the individuals and in particular their financial holdings in London, it’s not known how many there are or what their influence is. It is likely however that some funding finds its way to the Tory Party.
Following the Russian invasion of the Ukraine Boris Johnson announced some limited measures against Russian financial interests in the UK:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60515626
There was however no mention for example of Lubov Chernukhin,50. The Sunday Times (20th Feb 22) revealed Ms Chernukhin is a member of a Tory advisory board that enjoys direct access to Johnson and other senior Ministers. A minimum donation of £250,000 is required. Ms Chernukhin is a former banker and the wife of a former Deputy Finance Minister in Putin’s Government Vladimir Chernukhin. Their wealth, mostly held offshore, is thought to be around £366m. This would not be touched by the measures Johnson has announced.
She has lobbied Ministers against higher taxes for the very rich. Ms Chernukhin played a game of tennis with Boris Johnson and Dave Cameron after paying £160,000 for the ‘honour’ in a Tory fund raising campaign and has dined with Theresa May.
Why weren’t the Chernukhins targeted by Johnson? Firstly of course because they have swapped Putin’s free market conservatism for Johnson but secondly because at some point they have become British citizens. Current mainstream obsessions aside the task here is to make British politics more open and accountable by finding out what ALL Oligarchs are up to with their money
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lubov_Chernukhin
The early nineteenth term for this was Old Corruption and in helping to finance Russian military campaigns Londongrad as its known has had deadly consequences.
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