Are Russian Oligarchs "Criminals"?

[dolgoruky]

If so, why? If not, why not?

[cryofan]

1. Yes, And our leaders are criminals for facilitating the theft of Russia...

...by the oligarchs...

[mobuto]

2. Yes and no

To a man, they violated the law at some point during the 1990s. But everybody did. Russian was anarchic - it was impossible to survive and follow the law. Now the privatization was largely inevitable, but still some stole enormous amounts from the state. Those who stole a great deal are clearly "criminals" but I think it would be a mistake to go after them all. Russia cannot afford a return to collectivization, and the costs incurred in the 1990s would be dwarfed by the costs of stepping backwards.

And another thing, the oligarchs, while clearly distasteful, fund the only political opposition in Russia to Vladimir Putin. If they all go to jail or into exile, then there will be nobody but Putin. And that's scarier than any corrupt two-bit Russian oligarch.

[everythingsxen]

3. The rich are criminals.....

virtually all... regardless of nationality.

At the very least they are sick. They need to be comitted.

[Loonman]

4. Good ol' liberal tolerance, I see

:eyes:

[everythingsxen]

5. What?

That people who have more money than God and then want MORE are sick?

So limitless greed is just the nature of the game I suppose.

:eyes:

[JVS]

6. Yes

Russia is dying under the oligarchs. They are mass murdering the people.