Sanctions & Politics

On 28 April 2022, President Joe Biden asked Congress for new powers to seize the assets of sanctioned Russian oligarchs and to use the proceeds for Ukraine. A day earlier, the House of Representatives had passed its own bill on the same subject. This article sets out what the White House proposed, what the House

Russian oligarchs have a new secret weapon in their arsenal: libel. With the help of wealthy friends in high places, they are using this powerful tool to shut down critical media outlets and silence their critics.  In this blog post, we will take a closer look at how libel is being used to suppress free

The recent round of sanctions that have been placed on Russian oligarchs and government officials could have unintended consequences.  Some experts are concerned that the sanctions could end up benefiting these wealthy individuals, as they have become more adept at moving their money offshore.  This could lead to a flight of capital from Russia and

In a surprising turn of events, several Russian oligarchs have spoken out against the recent escalation of violence in the region. In an open letter to the President, these business leaders called for an end to the bloodshed and urged all parties to come to the negotiating table.  This is a remarkable development, as most

What is the relationship between Russian oligarchs and Putin? How do they interact with each other? And what implications does this have for democracy in Russia? To answer these questions, it’s essential first to understand what an oligarch is. Investopedia has described an oligarch, in contemporary usage, as a member of an elite economic group

What’s all the fuss about Russia? Why is it that there seems to be a new headline in the news every other day about this Eastern European country? And more importantly, what does it have to do with you and me?  To answer these questions, we must look closely at Russian politics. More specifically, we

In April 2018, the United States imposed sanctions on seven Russian oligarchs and 12 companies they own or control, as well as 17 senior Russian government officials. The Treasury Department cited the Russian government’s “malign activity around the globe,” including the occupation of Crimea and violence in eastern Ukraine. A month earlier, in March 2018,

Donald Trump’s business empire has faced scrutiny over possible conflicts of interest since he first became president. He returned to the presidency on 20 January 2025 (White House, 20 January 2025; White House, 45th and 47th President). The documented record on Russian oligarchs and the Trump Organization consists mainly of talks about two Moscow tower

One of the main ways the US and Europe are punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine is through sanctions. The Russian economy is being choked off by these sanctions, which are also making life and business difficult for Russia’s oligarchs, an elite class of extremely wealthy individuals who started exerting significant influence on Russian

It has been a big topic in the news lately: whether or not Russian oligarchs have their property seized. This is a complicated issue, and there are many different facets to it. In this blog post, we will explore the topic of asset seizure and how it applies to Russian oligarchs. We will also take