Under the leadership of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the country's wealthiest entrepreneurs, namely billionaires, have almost lost their political influence. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
Especially after the war with Ukraine began, the number of billionaires in Russia reached a record high. Most of them preferred to obey Putin's policies.
On February 24, 2022, when a large-scale military attack on Ukrainian territory started, Putin gathered the richest entrepreneurs in the Kremlin and emphasized the necessity of working together under the new conditions. After this meeting, many entrepreneurs were forced to remain silent.
Some lost part of their wealth or left the country. During the war and Western sanctions, entrepreneurs loyal to the Kremlin benefited from new opportunities.
In 2023 and 2024, funds allocated for the war caused growth in certain sectors of the Russian economy. This brought income to entrepreneurs who received military orders as well as other billionaires.
As a result, entrepreneurs loyal to the Kremlin gained the opportunity to increase their wealth. At the same time, Putin continued to take harsh measures against entrepreneurs who showed disobedience.
For example, individuals involved in democratic initiatives like Mikhail Khodorkovsky were imprisoned and deprived of their property. Under the current circumstances, almost all major wealthy individuals are forced to remain silent without expressing opposition to the war.
