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

Donald Trump has been in the news a lot lately, and it’s not just because of his policies. There is speculation that he may have financial ties to Russian oligarchs, and some are calling for an investigation. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, but one thing is for sure: this

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 says, “an oligarch is a member of the wealthy elite in a country who has

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 March 2018, the United States imposed sanctions on 19 Russian oligarchs and 12 companies they own or control. The objective of these sanctions was to punish Russia for its interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and its military aggression in Crimea and Ukraine. This list of Russian oligarchs sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury

Since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States, there has been intense scrutiny of his business empire and the potential conflicts of interest it presents.  One area that has received particular attention is the role of Russian oligarchs in Trump’s businesses. This article will explore the relationship between Trump and Russian oligarchs, and

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