Is Vladimir Putin subtly the world's wealthiest man?

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A trigger-glad war hawk who relaxes in broad daylight worship at home and disregards the resentment of the West, that Russia's macho president is seemingly the world's most capable man is nothing unexpected. That Vladimir Putin might likewise furtively be, by a long shot, the world's wealthiest man will come as a stun to numerous. Russia's dreaded dictator is well and genuinely a law unto himself and utilizations his free power practically however he sees fit. This has never been clearer than in the evil instance of Russian spy, Alexander¬ Litvinenko, whose homicide in London in 2006, Sir Robert Owen's request finished up a week ago was presumably endorsed by Putin. The Kremlin is, obviously, threatening¬ to sue the British government¬ over the case.

Sixteen years after he was initially chosen, 63-year-old Putin's position as Russian president is more grounded than at any other time. Be that as it may, another picture is gradually rising up out of the murk – of a man fixated on immense influence, as well as, with acquiring unfathomable riches. Very nearly 100 years since the Russian Revolution, it is practically as though nation has another Tsar. While Putin depicts himself as a humble man, with a 2014 wage of a minor 7.65 million roubles – £83,000, property which comprises of two not over-extensive flats and an offer in an auto parking structure, some case as a general rule he has a stunning fortune. Gauges range from £28billion to £140billion. A tremendous total, that, if genuine, would make him the wealthiest man on the planet. The £140billion, guaranteed by Putin pundit and flexible investments supervisor Bill Browder, is more than double the fortune of Microsoft originator Bill Gates. No one precludes the degree from securing corruption¬ in Russia. All Russians say: "The fish spoils starting from the head." But in the hoodlum express that is Putin's Russia, talk has it he has transformed huge defilement into a work of art.

For a considerable length of time, faultfinders have whispered of his shady "mafia-style" maze of individual associations and arrangements – an inward hover intended to deceitfully rake in gobs of cash. Furthermore, this week, the US Treasury went along with them, surprisingly transparently blaming Putin for debasement and stealing state assets to hoard a tremendous individual riches. This is said to incorporate a billion dollar royal residence, and a £25million yacht, Olympia, asserted to have been given to Putin by Chelsea proprietor Roman Abramovich, one of some super-rich companions it is said the president back scratches consequently for the same.

"We're seen him improving his companions, his nearby partners, and underestimating the individuals who he doesn't see as companions, utilizing state resources. Whether that is Russia's vitality riches, whether it's other state contracts, he guides those to whom he accepts will serve him and avoids the individuals who don't," US Treasury official Adam Szubin claims, when addressing BBC Panorama this week. "To me, that is a defilement," he includes, clarifying ex-KGB spy Putin had years of involvement in "concealing his riches". Putin master Angus Roxburgh concurs the president is fixated on influence and wealth. He says: "He carries on like a tsar, has confidence in himself as a tsar… and probably¬ needs to live such as one."

The creator of The Strongman: Vladimir Putin and the Struggle for Russia, he includes: "Putin presumably sees riches essentially as his due. He is president of an awesome nation, and in his oversimplified perspective of the world, pioneers are rich."There are couple of prominent indications of riches. Incidentally there is a look behind the deliberately closed draperies – last fall he was shot working out in a £2,000 cashmere and silk tracksuit¬ by extravagance Italian firm Lora Piana. He additionally had a soft spot for expensive timepieces¬ – his watch gathering said to be worth almost £450,000. In 2009, he gave a £5,500 dark Blancpain to an assembly line laborer. Putin and his colleagues reject all cases of his reported riches and defilement as "unadulterated fiction". The line from Putin himself is: "I am the wealthiest man in Europe as well as on the planet. I gather feelings. I am affluent in that the Russian individuals have twice depended me with authority of an extraordinary country." But the benevolent depiction couldn't be further from the irritating picture nonconformists paint. Political master Stanislav Belkovsky has asserted Putin made £27billion from stakes in three Russian vitality firms, oil investigation firm, Surgutneftegaz, Gazprom, the state vitality goliath, and Gunvor, an oil exchanging organization.

Sergev Kolesnikov, is among the individuals who claim Putin utilizes state stores and donations¬ from rich benefactors as far as anyone knows to the state, for compelling individual addition. The agent offered Putin gather cash from the super-rich, supposing it some assistance with being heading towards state ventures. He and two accomplices set up Rosinvest to contribute the cash. Tellingly, 94% of the organization was claimed by Putin. The organization at first put resources into 16 diverse state extends however supports started to head towards a "side task", he guarantees – the gigantic billion dollar Constantine Palace on the Black Sea. Putin has denied it is anything to do with him yet Panorama saw papers demonstrating to him connected to the cash trail. The reverberating case, resounded by a few previous partners is that Putin has offers in some of Russia's greatest firms. At their rudder are numerous old and dear companions. An extensive number of these go back to his days in St Petersburg, where Putin was conceived and served as representative chairman. Putin experienced childhood in destitution, living in a fifth floor, one room loft with no high temp water and a Is Vladimir Putin secretly the world's richest man?

A trigger-happy warmonger who basks in public adoration at home and shrugs off the anger of the West, that Russia’s macho president is arguably the world’s most powerful man is no surprise. That Vladimir Putin may also secretly be, by far, the world’s richest man will come as a shock to many. Russia’s feared autocrat is well and truly a law unto himself and uses his unfettered power almost as he pleases. This has never been clearer than in the sinister case of Russian spy, Alexander¬ Litvinenko, whose murder in London in 2006, Sir Robert Owen’s inquiry concluded last week was probably sanctioned by Putin. The Kremlin is, of course, threatening¬ to sue the British government¬ over the claim.

Sixteen years after he was first elected, 63-year-old Putin’s position as Russian president is stronger than ever. But another picture is slowly emerging from the murk – of a man not only obsessed with vast power, but also, with obtaining unimaginable wealth. Almost 100 years since the Russian Revolution, it is almost as if country has a new Tsar.

While Putin describes himself as a modest man, with a 2014 income of a mere 7.65 million roubles – £83,000, property which consists of two not over-large apartments and a share in a car parking garage, some claim in reality he has a staggering fortune. Estimates range from £28billion to £140billion. A gigantic sum, that, if true, would make him the wealthiest man in the world. The £140billion, claimed by Putin critic and hedge fund manager Bill Browder, is more than twice the fortune of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Nobody denies the extent of corruption¬ in Russia. All Russians say: “The fish rots from the head down.” But in the gangster state that is Putin’s Russia, rumour has it he has turned colossal corruption into an art form.

For years, critics have whispered of his shady “mafia-style” labyrinth of personal connections and deals – an inner circle designed to unscrupulously rake in the big bucks. And this week, the US Treasury joined them, for the first time openly accusing Putin of corruption and embezzling state funds to amass a huge personal wealth. This is said to include a billion dollar palace, and a £25million yacht, Olympia, claimed to have been given to Putin by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, one of many super-rich friends it is said the president back scratches in return for the same.

“We’re seen him enriching his friends, his close allies, and marginalising those who he doesn’t view as friends, using state assets. Whether that’s Russia’s energy wealth, whether it’s other state contracts, he directs those to whom he believes will serve him and excludes those who don’t,” US Treasury official Adam Szubin alleges, when speaking to BBC Panorama this week. “To me, that is a corruption,” he adds, explaining ex-KGB spy Putin had years of experience in “masking his wealth”. Putin expert Angus Roxburgh agrees the president is obsessed with power and riches. He says: “He behaves like a tsar, believes in himself as a tsar… and probably¬ wants to live like one.”

The author of The Strongman: Vladimir Putin and the Struggle for Russia, he adds: “Putin probably sees wealth simply as his due. He is president of a great country, and in his simplistic view of the world, leaders are rich.”There are few conspicuous signs of wealth. Occasionally there is a peek behind the carefully drawn curtains – last autumn he was photographed working out in a £2,000 cashmere and silk tracksuit¬ by luxury Italian firm Lora Piana. He also had a weakness for pricey timepieces¬ – his watch collection said to be worth nearly £450,000. In 2009, he gave a £5,500 black Blancpain to a factory worker. Putin and his cronies dismiss all claims of his reported wealth and corruption as “pure fiction”. The line from Putin himself is: “I am the wealthiest man not just in Europe but in the world. I collect emotions. I am wealthy in that the Russian people have twice entrusted me with leadership of a great nation.” But the selfless portrayal could not be further from the disturbing picture dissenters paint. Political expert Stanislav Belkovsky has claimed Putin made £27billion from stakes in three Russian energy firms, oil exploration firm, Surgutneftegaz, Gazprom, the state energy giant, and Gunvor, an oil trading company.

Sergev Kolesnikov, is among those who claim Putin uses state funds and donations¬ from rich backers supposedly to the state, for extreme personal gain. The businessman helped Putin collect money from the super-rich, thinking it was heading towards state projects. He and two partners set up Rosinvest to invest the money. Tellingly, 94% of the company was owned by Putin. The company initially invested in 16 different state projects but funds began to head towards a “side project”, he claims – the immense billion dollar Constantine Palace on the Black Sea. Putin has denied it is anything to do with him but Panorama saw papers showing him linked to the money trail. The resounding claim, echoed by several former associates is that Putin has shares in some of Russia’s biggest firms. At their helm are many old and close friends. A large number of these date back to his days in St Petersburg, where Putin was born and served as deputy mayor. Putin grew up in poverty, living in a fifth floor, one room apartment with no hot water and a shared kitchen. His dad Vladimir Spiridonovich battled with Soviet extraordinary strengths in the Second World War, returning home seriously incapacitated he acted as a worker. His mom Maria Ivanovna, who just about kicked the bucket of starvation amid the attack by the Nazis of the city, was an assembly line laborer. Subsequent to graduating in 1975, Putin joined the KGB, and was in the long run sent to Dresden, then in East Germany, to cultivate¬ other covert operators. Be that as it may, it was the companions and associates he made later, when he returned in 1991 to the place where he grew up to work out in the open office, who have stayed with him. Faultfinders say this is the group he trusts and remunerates. They consequently, do his offering. The unloyal hazard correctional facility, or more awful. Creator Karen Dawisha said: "The framework is keep running as per the old maxim, 'For my companions everything, for my foes the law'." His previous delegate and his legal advisor in St Petersburg have both served as his leaders.

By, another companion, the previous cellist to his girl, Sergei Roldugin, has an important stake in a noteworthy Russian bank. A neighbor, Yuri Kovalchuck, has a greater stake. Adolescence buddy Boris Rotenberg, made a heap from authority contracts. Angus Roxburgh says: "There is most likely twelve or so of Putin's dearest companions and previous associates have turned out to be marvelously rich. They couldn't have done as such without Putin's say as much – and would he have done it without profiting himself?" And it appears Putin might be passing both his framework, his contacts, and his riches, to the cutting edge. Famously private about his own life, he has two girls. He separated wife Lyudmila in 2013, however has been connected for a considerable length of time to tumbler Alina Kabaeva, 32. Data on his children is just about as hard to affirm as his riches, yet his most youthful girl, is accepted to be Katerina Tikhonova, and appears to profit by her dad's position – alongside her spouse Kirill Shamalov.

Investigators figure Putin junior and her spouse most likely have holdings¬ worth about £1.5billion. That riches stems chiefly, they assert, from an openly revealed stake in a noteworthy firm Kirill gained from Gennady Timchenko, a things broker and buddy of Putin. As Roxburgh says, a lot of it is difficult to accept – and close difficult to demonstrate: "In the event that he has so much riches why do we see so little of it, other than his watches?

"On the off chance that he has a yacht when on earth would he say he was on it? For all intents and purposes each hour of his time can be represented. On the off chance that he has this colossal new castle, has he ever utilized it? "Every one of the ventures, possessions, are covered up and denied. Everything is done in mystery so how would we know? Much data is from abused gatherings." But whispers are getting louder, and a tale, recorded by creator Masha Gessen, appears to total up what is turning out to be clear as a Putin characteristic. She discusses the time in 2005, while facilitating a gathering of US agents in St Petersburg, Putin stashed a jewel ring having a place with Robert Kraft, proprietor of the New England Patriots American football group, in the wake of requesting that attempt it on. After numerous articles in the US press, Kraft reported the ring had been a blessing. Clearly the most shrewd story when managing a jaybird like Putin?

Source : Mirror