Londongrad is an up to the minute account of the Russian Invasion, one of the many names given to the influx of moneyed “New Russians” into the United Kingdom, primarily London, hence the name. It’s also a thorough, extensive (as far as possible in view of tight, constant security surrounding them), well-researched look into their lives, their vanities and their frailties, and their run-ins with the man who was to become their nemesis, Vladimir Putin. It’s a story of how they dodged the Russian tax and legal authorities, and how some have paid the price. And it’s a story of how one man came to control billions of dollars worth of industry, property and investments on their behalf, and paid the ultimate price. It’s also a story about a few who got the goldmine, but then got the shaft.
Londongrad is primarily the story just four of these oligarchs (although it’s sometimes difficult to limit to those four): Boris Berezovsky, Roman Abramovich, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and Oleg Deripaska. It’s a story of how these four, probably the best known to the Western press, outsmarted, outfoxed and outmaneuvered their rivals, and how they’re still attempting to keep out of the clutches of former Russian president Vladimir Putin and his successor. It also touches on the events surrounding the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, who had history with some of the major players, and Stephen Curtis, who was lawyer to many of England’s moneyed Russians, and who all but predicted his own death. Only one week before a helicopter crash killed Curtis, he’d told a close friend, “If anything happens to me in the next few weeks, it will not be an accident.”
The influx of Russians was actually several influxes, and is, to a significantly lesser extent, still ongoing. While there have been stages of the influx, the end result is still the same: Moneyed Russians scooping up desirable properties, oftentimes at cut-throat prices, where they will simply outbid everybody else just because they can, and with little or no regard of the true, intrinsic value of the property.
These New Russians, or oligarchs, as they’re often called, are viewed both with awe and disdain by the British and the world, which seems to bother them little, if at all. The attraction is also, as a friend of mine said, like the Chicago of 1929 and the 1930s, with Al Capone and Eliot Ness and his “Untouchables” going head to head. The Chicago Mob was feared, respected and lionized. Most people wouldn’t dare cross them or be caught prying into the Mob’s private affairs, but those same people hung on ever news article, every hint of gossip, every nuance, about them.
Article comments
1 - Evgeny Borsuk USA
Would the current powers that be, Putin, really allow 30 people to control 40% of his country's GDP? Answer, only if those 30 people played ball with him. For years minority shareholders in many companies had to sit back while majority holders [unsupported allegation deleted by Comments Editor] diverted billions of dollars into illicit offshore British Virgin Island slush funds. Their Cro Magnon approach to corporate governance coupled with their use of these ill gotten tax free gains has led to corruption and payoffs. Those bag men that have cooperated with Putin have clearly avoided the fates of men like Berezovsky and Khodorkovsky, however there is only so much perfume you can put on a pig before they begin to smell like pigs again and I can already smell the bacon, can't you?
2 - matt
probably the best known to the Western press, outsmarted, outfoxed and outmaneuvered their rivals, and how they're still attempting to keep out of the clutches of former Russian president Vladimir Putin and his successor
3 - Orgindex
Vladimir Putin the best variant of the president for Russia. Soon elections and I am obligatory ???? to vote for it. Whatever spoke, but Putin one of the most influential figures in the world.
Good luck.
4 - Evgeny Borsuk
Barry Fagan, the slandering you are doing of Mr. Abramovich is illegal in the US, just as tax evasion is illegal in the US. As you know.