The Daily Will Sanctioning Oligarchs Change the War?
Mar 22, 2022
Join Matt Apuzzo, a seasoned New York Times reporter in Brussels, as he breaks down the implications of sanctioning Russian oligarchs amid the Ukraine conflict. He discusses how these wealthy elites, despite their power, often find ways to evade penalties. Apuzzo highlights individual cases and questions the true effectiveness of such financial measures. The conversation also reveals how global coordination is shifting to confront Kremlin-affiliated wealth, raising stakes in the geopolitical landscape. Can these moves compel Putin to reconsider?
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Sanctions' Logic
- Western governments target rich, politically connected Russians with sanctions, aiming to pressure Putin.
- This strategy assumes these oligarchs influence Putin and will push him to change his actions if they suffer.
2014 Sanctions
- In 2014, similar sanctions were imposed on oligarchs after Russia's annexation of Crimea.
- However, these sanctions proved largely ineffective in altering Putin's course of action.
Rotenberg's Evasion
- Arkady Rotenberg, a childhood friend and construction magnate close to Putin, was sanctioned in 2014.
- Despite sanctions, he continued to buy art in New York City, demonstrating the ease of evasion.