Billionaires Flee Putin's Russia

For mainly Jewish oligarchs, wealth and power has given way to prison and exile

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 2, 2007 4:08 PM CDT

(Newser) – A cadre of 50 or so Russian businessmen struck it rich when the USSR's state-owned industries went up for grabs. But most of these billionaire oligarchs are now in prison or have fled, hounded and hectored by the KGB-style tactics of president Putin. The Guardian profiles 7 deposed plutocrats, who've made their bones in oil, aluminum and everything in between.

Most are Jews who translated their Soviet-era black market acumen into a post-Cold War advantage; but in a country teeming with anti-Semitism, Jewish entrepreneurs have had to tread lightly. Some—like Russia's richest man, Roman Abramovich—have managed to ingratiate themselves with Putin, but many are behind bars or abroad.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watches their English Premier League soccer match against Everton at the Stamford Bridge Stadium, London, Sunday May 13, 2007. (AP Photo/Tom Hevezi) (Associated Press)

Boris Berezovsky, speaks to the media during the launch of the Litvinenko Justice Foundation in London, Tuesday, April 3, 2007.Berezovsky called for the use of force to oust President Vladimir Putin's... (Associated Press)

Members of the pro-presidential movement Young Guard hold posters with pictures of opposition leaders and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky during a rally in Moscow, Saturday, April 14, 2007. The rally... (Associated Press)

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Billionaires Flee Putin's Russia