A quarter of a century in power has allowed Vladimir Putin to enrich himself. He has done this by plundering Russia's resources, confiscated private businesses and persecuted those who stood against him including Boris Berezovsky, Vladimir Gusinsky, Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Bill Browder. Putin put their assets under the control of his friends and cronies, who creamed off billions from nominally-state owned corporations. In 2022 Fortune Magazine estimated Putin's personal fortune at $200 billion. The revenues he stole allowed Putin to build up an unparalleled war chest and this he used to pay for the invasion of Ukraine. The people Putin robbed he tortured and murdered. Some tried to fight back. Of these original oligarchs only Roman Abramovich survives. This is the fascinating story of what has happened to the men that Putin dispossessed and where their money went. But revenge is best served with cool heads and sharp minds. A small team of legal experts has spent the last twenty years pursuing Putin in the courts of the world. These legal experts are based in London and they are set on reclaiming this enormous wealth. The effect on the War in Ukraine will be just one result of their determined efforts.
