Let Them Rot: Disgraced Oligarchs Holed Up in Londonstan Beg Russia to Protect and Take Them Back
It's cold, it's freezing but we can't help but ask you another question. This news has been published everywhere, including the Times. It's the initiative of Boris Titov "business tsar", as the Times called him, who met with Russian businessmen in London, who fled there from some prosecution. And the list Titov allegedly handed over, although the Kremlin hasn't confirmed that yet, the list of our runaway businessmen who seem to be ready to return to Russia paying off their debts and damages. Does this idea seem realistic to you?
Andrey Kostin the head of VTB: Well, Mr. Titov's work implies protecting business and thank God he does so with great enthusiasm, but I don't think anyone should replace the court and its verdicts. I'm not familiar with the people whose names are on the list. Some of them might be well-respected people. But my experience, the experience of the Moscow Bank, when a former manager stole billions of dollars, moved to England, received political refuge, bought the most expensive estate in Great Britain, or the world maybe, for $200,000,000 and nobody asked him where he got this money from or whether he laundered it. Thus, I don't think every person who fled to London has the right to return to Russia. Each individual case must be analyzed by our law enforcers and courts. If the person is innocent they may come back. But not in every case.
- Yep, in some cases, one must return straight to Mordovia.
- Thank you so much, Mr. Kostin the head of VTB. Poor Titov, the nickname "business tsar" will probably stick to him. Regarding the names on the list: Mr. Pugachev, for example, owes Russia $28 billion. If he comes back and brings these 28 billion then he's welcome.
Leonid Kalashnikov, member of State Duma: Actually, the thing Mr. Kostin didn't mention was the reason behind the second list and the first one that only hints. The cunning Brits adopted two new laws. It's OK to build but then you have to explain how you paid for the construction and pay the government.
- Yeah, that's true.
- We won't get our money back. Secondly, it seems odd to discuss these two scenarios in a single well-respected show: A hero who died for his country he didn't die for Syria, he died for his Motherland and these rascals, 200,000 of them in London, half the city, who stole our money and are now begging to come back.
- Only 10 people wish to come back.
- I wouldn't even consider this matter. They abandoned their country in distress and then landed into trouble. Leonid Kalashnikov, member of State Duma. They are crawling back because no-one will protect them there.