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This is not entirely true. The majority of oligarchs are either related to ex-top soviet officials or some black market thugs who got freedom in post-collapse c

This is not entirely true. The majority of oligarchs are either related to ex-top soviet officials or some black market thugs who got freedom in post-collapse chaos. My grandfather was a KGB colonel, in 90s he lost all his savings because of crazy inflation. I cant recall any of his friends i knew who became rich, most of them retired or had to leave and are getting miserable government pension and a letter of appreciation for good service once a year. As I said the oligarchs are ex gov officials sons or cousins and thugs who spent time in soviet jail for black market trade. Hey, even ukrainian president did a few years in jail for stealing some merchandise, what would you expect.

rdtsc 13y ago
> The majority of oligarchs are either related to ex-top soviet officials or some black market thugs who got freedom in post-collapse chaos. Well ex-top soviet officials are sort of in the same category. It certainly wasn't regular citizens like factory workers. I guess what I was trying to say KGB agents and ex-officials joining it was surprising since they were supposedly the biggest and more devout believers in the system. If you read that book you'll that Cherkashin also sort of feels a bit nostalgic for those times and decries what has become of the country he served for so many years.