Decryption

War in Ukraine: targeting the oligarchs, an effective measure?

Audio 7:30 p.m.

Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is parting ways with London club Chelsea, which he bought in 2003. © Martin Meissner/AP

By: Anne Corpet Follow

1 min

The Russian oligarchs got rich by carving up the country's state-owned enterprises after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

They had to prove their loyalty to Vladimir Putin to keep and grow their fortune.

Some owe their position directly to him: they have been appointed to head gigantic groups by the Russian president.

Long spared from sanctions, these billionaires are now in the crosshairs of Europe, the United States and Great Britain.

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More than 800 of them are now targeted by punitive measures.

But for these sanctions to be effective, it is not enough to name names, it is also necessary to disentangle complex financial arrangements, to unmask front companies.

Is it possible ?

By hitting the Russian elites in the wallet, Westerners hope that they will use their influence with Vladimir Putin to demand an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

Is this goal realistic?

Can the Russian oligarchs really weigh on the Kremlin line?

With : 

Andreï Kozovoi

, historian at the

, author of

Julien Vercueil

, professor of economics at

(National Institute of Oriental Languages ​​and Civilizations) 

A program prepared by Anne Corpet and Sigrid Azeroual, produced by Claude Battista.

All of our daily, live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

© FMM Graphic Studio

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