[exgaffer]

First: "You can't group together everyone and say they are all bad"  then: "Dirty politicians, show me a clean one!."
Can't even hold an argument for four lines.

I had meetings with a few oligarchs between about 2005 and 2009 - maybe not Top100 - more at the Top450-700 level, I don't think any of them had $500m superyachts, but they had money and bodyguards and villas in Tuscany and all that. Most of them had pretty humble beginnings and they were just well placed when the Soviet Union collapsed. Although there was one meeting when the translator I was with said as we were leaving "don't look back, if they find we are working for rival, they will kill us and leave us in ditches".

btw.... sanctions applied to Russian oligarchs so far:
EU: 446
Switzerland: 351
USA: 148
UK: 24

30 days notice to move money out of the City of London, 18 months to sell property. Tories are up to their neck in Russian money, and the Russians have johnson by the balls. And Gavin Williamson, who is as brainless as he is nasty, gets a knighthood for services to keeping-his-fooking-mouth-shut.

IKEA and VW are closing their businesses in Russia and we have the son of an ex-KGB general in the House of Lords: Lord of Siberia. MI6 recommended that he not be given a seat, but he went round to Downing St for tea in johnson's flat, and he was back on the list.

That’s all very interesting Mr Propaganda Machine, but it would have more credibility if you were more balanced and pointed out the fact that other political parties also have their hands deep in foreign money. 

The fact is that chucking all the Russian oligarchs out will have fuck all effect on Putin’s recreation of the Russian Empire. At some point he has to be confronted militarily, if he isn’t he will just carry on his merry murderous path.

We should also be trying to enlist the aid of rich Russians to get Putin removed, it is not in their interests for him to remain in power.

You are in favour of unrestricted immigration aren’t you? If that is the case, you can’t complain about Russians moving to the UK and buying up half of London. Similarly, if one of them buys the ‘Independent’ and lives in London, you can’t complain about him entering the House of Lords. Personally I think the House of Lords should be abolished now, that would end all argument.

You are for mass immigration unless it doesn’t fit your narrative, you are for sovereignty unless it is UK sovereignty. It could be inferred that you are the one working for a foreign power. 

Do us all a favour and move to the EU ffs, at least your bleatings of support for them could be taken semi seriously then.

[DeepBlue]

First: "You can't group together everyone and say they are all bad"  then: "Dirty politicians, show me a clean one!."
Can't even hold an argument for four lines.

I had meetings with a few oligarchs between about 2005 and 2009 - maybe not Top100 - more at the Top450-700 level, I don't think any of them had $500m superyachts, but they had money and bodyguards and villas in Tuscany and all that. Most of them had pretty humble beginnings and they were just well placed when the Soviet Union collapsed. Although there was one meeting when the translator I was with said as we were leaving "don't look back, if they find we are working for rival, they will kill us and leave us in ditches".

btw.... sanctions applied to Russian oligarchs so far:
EU: 446
Switzerland: 351
USA: 148
UK: 24

30 days notice to move money out of the City of London, 18 months to sell property. Tories are up to their neck in Russian money, and the Russians have johnson by the balls. And Gavin Williamson, who is as brainless as he is nasty, gets a knighthood for services to keeping-his-fooking-mouth-shut.

IKEA and VW are closing their businesses in Russia and we have the son of an ex-KGB general in the House of Lords: Lord of Siberia. MI6 recommended that he not be given a seat, but he went round to Downing St for tea in johnson's flat, and he was back on the list.

That’s all very interesting Mr Propaganda Machine, but it would have more credibility if you were more balanced and pointed out the fact that other political parties also have their hands deep in foreign money. 

The fact is that chucking all the Russian oligarchs out will have fuck all effect on Putin’s recreation of the Russian Empire. At some point he has to be confronted militarily, if he isn’t he will just carry on his merry murderous path.

We should also be trying to enlist the aid of rich Russians to get Putin removed, it is not in their interests for him to remain in power.

You are in favour of unrestricted immigration aren’t you? If that is the case, you can’t complain about Russians moving to the UK and buying up half of London. Similarly, if one of them buys the ‘Independent’ and lives in London, you can’t complain about him entering the House of Lords. Personally I think the House of Lords should be abolished now, that would end all argument.

You are for mass immigration unless it doesn’t fit your narrative, you are for sovereignty unless it is UK sovereignty. It could be inferred that you are the one working for a foreign power. 

Do us all a favour and move to the EU ffs, at least your bleatings of support for them could be taken semi seriously then.

He gave you a list of all the MPs from all parties who have received money from Russians ... what more do you want ?

[Tufnell_Chimes]

First: "You can't group together everyone and say they are all bad"  then: "Dirty politicians, show me a clean one!."
Can't even hold an argument for four lines.

I had meetings with a few oligarchs between about 2005 and 2009 - maybe not Top100 - more at the Top450-700 level, I don't think any of them had $500m superyachts, but they had money and bodyguards and villas in Tuscany and all that. Most of them had pretty humble beginnings and they were just well placed when the Soviet Union collapsed. Although there was one meeting when the translator I was with said as we were leaving "don't look back, if they find we are working for rival, they will kill us and leave us in ditches".

btw.... sanctions applied to Russian oligarchs so far:
EU: 446
Switzerland: 351
USA: 148
UK: 24

30 days notice to move money out of the City of London, 18 months to sell property. Tories are up to their neck in Russian money, and the Russians have johnson by the balls. And Gavin Williamson, who is as brainless as he is nasty, gets a knighthood for services to keeping-his-fooking-mouth-shut.

IKEA and VW are closing their businesses in Russia and we have the son of an ex-KGB general in the House of Lords: Lord of Siberia. MI6 recommended that he not be given a seat, but he went round to Downing St for tea in johnson's flat, and he was back on the list.

That’s all very interesting Mr Propaganda Machine, but it would have more credibility if you were more balanced and pointed out the fact that other political parties also have their hands deep in foreign money. 

The fact is that chucking all the Russian oligarchs out will have fuck all effect on Putin’s recreation of the Russian Empire. At some point he has to be confronted militarily, if he isn’t he will just carry on his merry murderous path.

We should also be trying to enlist the aid of rich Russians to get Putin removed, it is not in their interests for him to remain in power.

You are in favour of unrestricted immigration aren’t you? If that is the case, you can’t complain about Russians moving to the UK and buying up half of London. Similarly, if one of them buys the ‘Independent’ and lives in London, you can’t complain about him entering the House of Lords. Personally I think the House of Lords should be abolished now, that would end all argument.

You are for mass immigration unless it doesn’t fit your narrative, you are for sovereignty unless it is UK sovereignty. It could be inferred that you are the one working for a foreign power. 

Do us all a favour and move to the EU ffs, at least your bleatings of support for them could be taken semi seriously then.

Oh hello Guff, seems like your doing that thing where your railing against a comment that only exists inside your own head. Please point out in the post above where I've promoted unrestricted immigration, or a point about immigration at all -  I haven't. That's you being triggered by whatever ropey infochannel you've hardwired your brain into.

Your doing that thing that Lil'Mix does - which is amusing: First "The fact is that chucking all the Russian oligarchs out will have fuck all effect on Putin" then: "We should also be trying to enlist the aid of rich Russians to get Putin removed" but you managed it in three lines! Beat that Lil'Mix!

Regarding that list of MPs, I expressly said that I didn't know if they were all tories, I just assumed they were. If you had the smallest amount of interest in making a cogent argument you would have gone through that list in the hope that maybe they weren't all tories - but you haven't done that - you've just gone and got all angry and confused instead.

Lebedev didn't just buy the Independent, he bought the Evening Standard too - both for a pound, though you're going to have to spell out how that gives him a free pass into the House of Lords, coz I can't see it. Unless he was about to print all the shit about johnson that Gavin Williamson got a knighthood for to forget. You voted for a government that is in hock to Putin and all it took was some bogus bollox about sovereignty.

...and lastly, in your last rambling nonsense about the EU you said that the success of Brexit was being held back because they were not implementing specific policies that would bring forth a gush of brexit benefits - I think I've asked you this three times now, so here goes No.4 - what are these policies? What exactly are these policies?

You and Putin have that thing in common - get it totally wrong, dig in, dig deeper, get angry - never admit you got it totally wrong. I guess we're all lucky GuffVille isn't a nuclear threat.

[stayinupforever]

How come,despite being sanctioned,gets special treatment and is allowed to sell his club? Special government licence?What's that all about?

[slayer]

Everyone lobbies. The UK is amongst the worst for it.

[exgaffer]

“The Russians have been funding anti fracking and other environmental groups in order to ensure continued Western dependence on Russian oil and gas.”

Its GufferTime! Quote your sources, Guff - fascinated in where your getting this crap.

Well your favourite rag was reporting this as long ago as 2014 Tufnell, quoting the then Secretary General of NATO and former Danish PM.

Funny you missed that wasn’t it?

It didn’t fit your lefty narrative though did it?

They’ve been doing it for years and anyone not deliberately turning a blind eye to it would know that to be the case.

[bluebollox]

How come,despite being sanctioned,gets special treatment and is allowed to sell his club? Special government licence?What's that all about?

As I read it (the latest news on it) he isn't allowed to sell it.

[Pompeyg100]

What I don’t understand is why they can’t sell tickets etc, RA won’t benefit, the club is run at a massive loss, he doesn’t take cash out of the till in the club shop.

[bluebollox]

The very latest is Chelsea can be sold but proof must be obtained the money isn't going to RA.
Good luck with that then Chelsea.

[DeepBlue]

What I don’t understand is why they can’t sell tickets etc, RA won’t benefit, the club is run at a massive loss, he doesn’t take cash out of the till in the club shop.

But he could

[TBP]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

[TBP]

It was pretty sickening watching the House rise to applaud the Ukrainian ambassador when a good many of the MPs are swimming in dirty Russian money.

That’s very true of course.

It’s not just MP’s though is it?

The Russians have been funding anti fracking and other environmental groups in order to ensure continued Western dependence on Russian oil and gas.

The Chinese have also been at it big time.

The Americans have been at it longer than anyone….

Funding anti-fracking groups was hardly needed with Thunberg and her ilk around.

[Pompeyg100]

What I don’t understand is why they can’t sell tickets etc, RA won’t benefit, the club is run at a massive loss, he doesn’t take cash out of the till in the club shop.

But he could

The apparently have enough in the bank to pay March’s wages, then what?

[Isaac Hunt]

No problem with them paying wages.

[Isaac Hunt]

Be interesting to see how the out of contract players fare.

[Pompeyg100]

No problem with them paying wages.

No problem in what respect? Where will the money come from?

[DeepBlue]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Being a friend of Putin in the past is enough. Putin is funded by his circle of friendly oligarchs, which is why they are being targeted by so many countries. 

But don't forget the Tories are being criticised for not punishing the oligarchs enough (i.e. about 10% in number compared to most of Europe) so picking on a high profile one like RA will get enough publicity for people to think he is clamping down hard, but without having to touch any of the ones funding his party.

[firqdays]

YES - or in Prem terms be careful, be VERY careful what you wish for.

We HAVE been there got the T shirt ..... spilt some coffee on it but got away it it , not too bad, and made it clean.

And now , Thank you Michael EISNER - in Eisner we trust !

[ForeverPompey]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Supporting Putin is surely an offence against decency and humanity?

[Oct_63]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Being a friend of Putin in the past is enough. Putin is funded by his circle of friendly oligarchs, which is why they are being targeted by so many countries. 

But don't forget the Tories are being criticised for not punishing the oligarchs enough (i.e. about 10% in mumber compared to most of Europe) so picking on a high profile one like RA will get enough publicity for people to think he is clamping down hard, but without having to touch any of the ones funding his party.

Vladimir Putin has intertwined and created a 'special world' of the original oligarchs, who emerged from the loans for shares deals of the Yeltsin era. Abramovitch was one of these. They have become extremely wealthy under his presidency. Even if their personal associations with Putin are more tenuous than some of the reporting on their connections might suggest, they play an important role in the system he has created, and they occupy extremely responsible positions in the Russian economy. They are all predominantly involved in oil and gas transportation and trading and are directly key to Putin retaining ultimate control over Russias economically and politically vital oil and gas sector. They are the active, mobile, intermediaries between massive companies like Gazprom  Rosneft and Transneft and global markets. Their existence is the difference between a bureaucracy that doesn't, and can't, get things done and a group of individuals who can and profit in doing so. 
Russia  the state, is not accountable.
The UK government are saying Abramovitchs personal enrichment is related to Putin. He has become wealthy, and kept his wealth, because he delivers results and his association with Putin. He has been rewarded and protected by Putin and his corrupt system on the basis of his performance. 
The role of money in Putins system is ever present. It is the fact that this money derives from activity that is or could be found to be illegal. Oligarchs, in Putins system aren't bought off in the classic sense of that term. They are compromised, they are made vulnerable to threats. Putin was a KGB officer, threats is the essence of Putins system. Loyalty is ensured through blackmail. Corrupt, even illegal, activity will be kept secret as long as the individual continues to play the game.
They have raped Russia of its oil, gas and mineral wealth and fund Putin and his wars.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Anyone know what his offence is, because, at the moment, it just looks like Marxist Dictator Johnson going after the rich?

Something about it being World Cup related. He personally benefitted from his close relationship with Putin and made a bundle during the 2018 WC. Guess it left a paper trail.


The team travelling budget for all Chelsea away games - including the european games - has been capped at £20k. They're away to Lille next week - fleet of minibuses and a few of those big family tents should sort it.

[Tufnell_Chimes]

Vladimir Putin has intertwined and created a 'special world' of the original oligarchs, who emerged from the loans for shares deals of the Yeltsin era. Abramovitch was one of these. They have become extremely wealthy under his presidency. Even if their personal associations with Putin are more tenuous than some of the reporting on their connections might suggest, they play an important role in the system he has created, and they occupy extremely responsible positions in the Russian economy. They are all predominantly involved in oil and gas transportation and trading and are directly key to Putin retaining ultimate control over Russias economically and politically vital oil and gas sector. They are the active, mobile, intermediaries between massive companies like Gazprom  Rosneft and Transneft and global markets. Their existence is the difference between a bureaucracy that doesn't, and can't, get things done and a group of individuals who can and profit in doing so. 
Russia  the state, is not accountable.
The UK government are saying Abramovitchs personal enrichment is related to Putin. He has become wealthy, and kept his wealth, because he delivers results and his association with Putin. He has been rewarded and protected by Putin and his corrupt system on the basis of his performance. 
The role of money in Putins system is ever present. It is the fact that this money derives from activity that is or could be found to be illegal. Oligarchs, in Putins system aren't bought off in the classic sense of that term. They are compromised, they are made vulnerable to threats. Putin was a KGB officer, threats is the essence of Putins system. Loyalty is ensured through blackmail. Corrupt, even illegal, activity will be kept secret as long as the individual continues to play the game.
They have raped Russia of its oil, gas and mineral wealth and fund Putin and his wars.

Abramovich was one of the survivors of the aluminium wars of the nineties. At the start of one year there were about 40-50 different aluminium companies. 12 months later there three - pretty brutal time.

[Oct_63]

Didn't end well for the original Boris either!.......Berezovsky

[Cressers]

It ought to be an eye-opening warning to us all how the British state can act so capriciously, so quickly.

[essentialmix75]

Fascism is on the rise, the state is becoming very authoritarian all around the world.

The Ukraine government has imprisoned the opposition and the press who appose him.

It's not right that he is being punished for Putin, it's like punishing a child for their mum or dad killing someone. It's not right and if you can't see this something is very wrong with you....