Olga Lukinova, May 28th
Espreso.TV has made a rating of oligarchs, which in light of recent events in Ukraine, have become undesirables in Russia.
Top-5 Oligarchs Who Have Become Enemies of Russia
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Tag Archives: oligarch
Kolomoysky’s example to oligarchs: fuelling the army
Monday, March 17, 2014, 22:02
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast governor Ihor Kolomoyskiy paid with his own money for the fuel needed by the military units of the Southern Operational Command. Kolomoysky’s deputy Boris Filatov reported about this at a press-conference on Friday, Interfax-Ukraine reported. Filatov didn’t specify the sum that Kolomoyskiy spent for the fuel but indicated that “these were colossal sums”.
The Commandant of Dnipropetrovsk National Defense Headquarters Yury Beresa told that Kolomoysky provided half of the fuel for all military units in the Southern Operational Command. “The military units of Dnipropetrovsk and Kherson oblasts are completely provisioned with fuel,” he added. Continue reading
Firtash Arrested in Vienna
Ukrainian oligarch Dmytro Firtash was arrested in Vienna on Wednesday evening, March 12. This information has been confirmed by German broadcaster “Deutsche Welle,” citing sources at the Federal Criminal Police Office of Austria.
Police sources also said the question of Firtash’s extradition to the U.S. would be resolved soon. Austria has no criminal cases against the businessman. Firtash’s arrest was based on a warrant issued by a U.S. court at the request of the FBI.
“In the evening on March 12, at about 20:00, members of the department for combating organized crime arrested Ukrainian citizen Dmytro Firtash, aged 48,” says the official statement from the Austrian police. Firtash is suspected of bribery and organized crime.
Among oligarchs, Firtash was one of those closest to the Yanukovych regime. In particular, he participated in the gas schemes between the Putin and Yanukovych regimes, even receiving a “discount.” As co-owner of the intermediary firm “RosUkrEnerho,” Firtash was involved in gas supplies during both the presidency of Viktor Yushchenko and the premiership of Yulia Tymoshenko.
Currently Firtash is owner of the TV channel “Inter,” which at the start of the Euromaidan protests was broadcasting distorted information on events with a decidedly pro-government stance. When protesters began to die, he shifted to a more balanced strategy.
Firtash was not included in recent lists of oligarchs subject to account freezes in the EU. According to “Correspondent,” he ranks 8th in the rankings of richest Ukrainians.
In the UK, Firtash formed an organization called “DF Foundation,” which later changed its name to “Firtash Foundation.” This organization was incorporated in Leeds. It is officially managed by Firtash’s Russian wife Lada Firtash.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed Firtash’s detention, said Ministry spokesman Yevhen Perebyynis, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda, March 13.
“According to our embassy in Vienna, we can say that he was indeed arrested at the request of the FBI. Firtash is currently in a penitentiary in Vienna,” Pereybyynis said. He added that “the embassy is looking into the matter and will try to hold a meeting with (Firtash).”
When asked when such a meeting would take place, Pereybyynis said it would depend on permission from the Austrian side.
Why should oligarchs pay the salaries to senior officials
Boris Davidenko, for Ukrainska Pravda Wednesday, February 26, 2014, 14:51
Any reforms of the new government would be sabotaged by the army of 400,000 officials. How can the richest people in the country impede it?
The future Prime Minister and the President of Ukraine will be forced to begin judicial, administrative, energy, land, tax, pension and dozens of large-scale reforms.
They have no choice: CHANGES are the main reason why Ukrainians perished in the streets. But will the reforms work well? Continue reading
Akhmetov decides to support the new government in Ukraine
Wednesday, February 26, 11:37 a.m.
SCM Holding, owned by oligarch Rinat Akhmetov, deems it necessary to implement reforms in the country, introduce effective mechanisms for state administration, significantly extend powers of local authorities, and increase the transparency and accountability of the government to civil society.
This was announced in a statement from SCM.
“We believe that Ukraine has enormous potential. Like all Ukrainians, we strive to build a new country, where democracy and the supremacy of law to ensure the protection of property, free competition, and social security, will be established.”
SCM declares that it is ready for the introduction of a new, coordinated system, and to work within it. “Using all means available, we will promote the achievement of set goals for the prosperity of Ukraine,” the statement says.
SCM notes that the events of the last three months have become the most tragic page in the history of Ukraine, and together with the whole country it is mourning the fallen, expressing its deep condolences to their family and friends. Continue reading
The Right Sector’s Appeal to the Richest and the Most Influential People in Ukraine
Dmytro Yarosh, leader of the Right Sector
During the years of independency the word “oligarch” has obtained a negative meaning in the minds of Ukrainians. The only associations we have with oligarchs in Ukraine are corruption schemes, theft and criminal dealings.
Today, you have an opportunity to change people’s attitude and stand by their side to avoid further bloodshed in Ukraine. We all understand that you have the decisive economic leverage on Yanukovych, we understand that if he loses your support he will be forced to stop the bloodshed as financing is the only thing that today lets Yanukovych to fight the Ukrainian people. Continue reading
Euromaidan PR 