By Ben Kerrigan-
A Russian oligarch claims to have lost everything he owns. In an interview with the Financial Times, Petrv Aven said: ‘Our business is completely destroyed.
His wife had spent days touring cash machines in the capital, taking out money as other oligarch’s were being sanctioned. Aven was pictured in the Kremlin in Moscow, as president Putin chaired a meeting of big businesses on the day war broke out in Ukraine
The EU first imposed restrictions on Aven, followed by the UK, who froze his bank account and assets frozen. His frantic wife has been touring cash machines in London, taking out money in the wake of news about wide sanctioning of other Russian oligarchs in the UK. He was also sanctioned by the UK on March 15 because of his complicity in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said at the time.
Teaming up with Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, the wealthy businessman used UK courts to sue the publisher and journalist Catherine Belton over her book on Putin, citing data protection law, until the case was settled.
‘Everything which we were building for 30 years is now completely ruined. And we have to somehow start a new life.’
‘Will l be allowed to have a cleaner, or a driver? I don’t drive a car… maybe my stepdaughter will drive. We don’t understand how to survive.’
Accused of being one of Putin’s cronies as the director of the Russian bank Alfa-Bank, the UK’s office of financial sanctions implementation said: ‘Aven is a prominent Russian businessman and pro-Kremlin oligarch.’
Aven said his life changed overnight and claimed it has left him unsure whether he can pay for bills. He has less than 20 days to leave Britain.
The tycoon made his fortune during the fallout of the breakdown of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. He and his business partner Mikhail Fridman launched a banking giant in Russia through their firm Alfa Group. They pair made huge lumps of cash out of oil investments during decade, even joining with BP for a venture in 2003.
The oligarch said he has struggled to find a lawyer willing to support his fight against the sanctions.
There has been some concern that Russia could deploy chemical and biological weapons in their battle for victory, in the face of unpredicted defeats in the war so far. Russia has suffered defeats to the east of Kyiv and in the south of the country as the armed forces pushed after a month of dogged defending.
President Biden told reporters at a summit in Brussels yesterday that the U.S would have to intervene and respond in such eventuality.
Ukranian forces have got hold of Lukashi, after overpowering Russian troops there, but there has been extreme fighting in Borodyanka, around 30 miles from downtown Kyiv to the west, as Ukraine’s forces try to wrest control of the city.
If successful, it leaves Russian troops at Bucha and Irpin – thought to number in the thousands – at risk of being surrounded with the potential for mass surrender.
Malynivka, a small town north of Mariupol has been recaptured by Ukrainian forces who have also overcome Russian assault in the area.