Paavo Lipponen, Esko Aho and many other ex-politicians supported Russian projects for years, but now most have dropped out – except Gerhard Schröder

In recent years, large Russian companies have eagerly dragged former top politicians into their governments or as advisers to promote their operations across Europe.

Since Russia launched its latest attack on Ukraine, many of the former politicians have left their posts in Russian companies – but not all. Here is a list of key names.

Esko Aho announced that he would resign from Sberbank’s board after the start of the latest attack in Russia and said that he had informed the bank earlier that he was not seeking a position.

Aho has received a basic remuneration for a member of the Board. According to the decision of the Annual General Meeting held in April 2021, it was 7.7 million rubles, which at the current exchange rate was about 85,000 euros a year.

Aho has also been paid additional fees for membership of two committees governing the banks.

Paavo Lipponen has sold consulting services to the Gazprom-driven Nord Stream gas pipeline project through his consulting company Cosmopolis.

Fillon was a board member of the state-owned oil company Zarubezhneft and a petrochemical company in Sibur.

He has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and announced his resignation.

Schüssel has been a member of the board of Lukoil, an oil company operating around the world.

Schüssel initially defended himself against the resignation, saying that Lukoil was not a Russian state-owned company but a private company listed on the London Stock Exchange.

After considering the matter further, Schüssel announced that he was leaving Lukoil.

Kern sat on the board of the Russian state railway company RZD.

He resigned quickly after the Russian invasion began, noting that the RZD was part of Russia’s war effort. Kern criticized the attack and said he is now thinking of victims of aggression.

Renzi was a member of the board of Delimobil, a car-sharing company. He resigned after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine.

Renzi has hoped for a former German chancellor Angela from Merkel peace mediator in Ukraine. Matteo Renzi currently leads the center-liberal Italia Viva party.

Former Chancellor Schröder sits on the board of the oil company Rosneft, of which he was elected chairman in 2017. He will also be a candidate on the board of the state-owned energy company Gazprom at its upcoming June general meeting.

Schröder also holds leadership positions in Nord Stream and the troubled Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline companies.

Many of Schröder’s party colleagues, the Chancellor Olaf Scholzia have demanded that Schröder leave his post in Russian companies.

Schröder has so far held on to his duties, but hoped for a speedy end to the war for which “Russia is responsible”. He has also expressed the hope that the necessary sanctions in themselves will not completely sever relations with Russia.

Karin Kneissl was elected to the board of the oil company Rosneft last year. Among other things, he is remembered for his spectacular dance as president Vladimir Putin with her own wedding in August 2018.

Kneissl has been sympathetic to Russia’s demands in Ukraine. He has written columns for Russia’s state-owned media company Russia Today, which is actively supporting the attack on Ukraine. The EU has banned Russia Today from operating in its territory.

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