Among the economic sanctions against Russia, the West has made it known that it intends to touch the wallets of Russian oligarchs and the country’s big fortunes. But as the pressure mounts, some billionaires are reacting and distancing themselves from Moscow’s actions. They call for peace in Ukraine.
Mikhail Fridman was the first to speak on Sunday. Of Ukrainian origin, the founder of the powerful private bank Alfa affirmed in a letter to his employees that this crisis was going to damage two sister nations for hundreds of years, and that it was necessary to put an end to “ bloodshed “.
Since then, the reactions have been linked. Aluminum tycoon Oleg Deripaska and media boss Evgeny Lebedev call for negotiation and an end to the war. Oleg Tinkov, founder of the bank of the same name, goes further, saying on his Instagram account that innocent people die every day in Ukraine, and that it is ” unacceptable “.
Sanctions are expensive for the oligarchs
More and more Russian billionaires are stepping up to the plate. One of the richest, Roman Abramovich, who has ceded control of Chelsea Football Club, was even contacted directly by Ukraine. According to his spokesperson, this close to Putin ” try to help in negotiations with Russia.
The sanctions hitting the country today would, according to the magazine, Forbes already cost nearly 100 billion dollars since February 16 to the great Russian fortunes.