Topline
The United Kingdom sanctioned the long-time suspected girlfriend and the ex-wife of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the U.K. announced Friday, the latest effort by the West designed to hit Putin where it hurts financially and personally in retaliation for his country’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, stands with his then-wife Lyudmila Ocheretnaya in 2006.
Key Facts
Alina Kabaeva, a Russian ex-gymnast thought by the U.S. government to be Putin’s girlfriend and mother of his children, was part of the U.K.’s newly announced penalties, describing her as having “a close personal relationship with Putin” in its announcement.
The U.K. sanctioned 11 more members of Putin’s “shady” social circle, including his ex-wife Lyudmila Ocheretnaya and five other family members and five close associates, freezing their assets in the U.K. and barring them from entering the country.
They are the latest penalty personally targeting Putin, who is highly secretive about his personal life and has publicly denied a relationship with Kabaeva, who is 31 years his junior and is reportedly also part of the EU’s next round of sanctions still under negotiation.
Penalties against Kabaeva represent a “purely personal attack” against Putin and puts “more gasoline on the fire” against the Russian leader, James F. Reardon, a Geneva-based international litigation lawyer who studies EU sanctions, told Forbes last week following reports the EU was mulling sanctions against her.
The EU, U.K. and U.S. and several other countries sanctioned Putin February 25 a day after Russia invaded Ukraine, freezing his assets in the territories, but Western officials have suggested Putin’s assets in the West are tied up with family members.
Putin’s daughters Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova were sanctioned by the EU, U.K. and U.S. in early April.
Crucial Quote
Despite Putin’s family not playing a direct known role in Russia’s invasion, they are the “most justifiable” target of individual sanctions legally, Viktor Winkler, a sanctions expert who formerly led German bank Commerzbank AG’s sanctions compliance department, told Forbes. The “core” goal of sanctions are to punish Putin for ordering the invasion, Winkler explained, adding that targeting those “most dearest” to Putin make his daughters and reported girlfriend “more legal” targets of sanctions than other Russians facing penalties, including oligarchs and politicians, due to their stronger connection to the man responsible for beginning the war.
Surprising Fact
The Wall Street Journal reported last month the U.S. scrapped earlier plans to sanction Kabaeva out of fear the Russian leader may lash out in response. The U.S. has not been reported to change its decision on sanctioning Kabaeva following reports about the EU’s plans, though the U.S. and EU have coordinated many of their sanctions together.
What We Don’t Know
How wealthy Putin is. Like his personal life, Putin’s fortune is shrouded in secrecy, and it’s unknown how much of a cut he gets, if any, from awarding favorable business deals to Russian oligarchs. The Russian government’s official 2021 income disclosure of Putin lists his annual income at a modest 10.2 million rubles (about $150,000).
Further Reading
As Biden Mulls Sanctions, Three Theories On How Putin Makes His Millions (Forbes)
Putin-Linked Superyacht May Elude Sanctions, by Setting Sail (New York Times)
How Russia’s Wealthiest Oligarch Is Expanding His Financial Empire Free From Sanctions (Forbes)
U.K. Sanctions Putin’s ‘Shady’ Network Of Family And Friends—Including Rumored Girlfriend (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2022/05/13/here-are-all-the-sanctions-targeting-putin-after-uk-sanctions-his-ex-wife-rumored-girlfriend/