The British Conservative Party has largely benefited from the Russian billionaire donations that have taken refuge in London since the 1990s. A report points to the threats of interference from these donations with political life.
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Since the beginning of the invasion in Ukraine, the British government has no pretty hard words against the Russian oligarchs who, since the 1990s, have made London their favorite capital – safe and little looking at the origin of their funds. “There is no room for dirty money in the United Kingdom,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after a dozen relatives of the Putin regime were sanctioned by the United Kingdom.
But Downing Street did not dare to tackle another evil: the amazing permeability to the Russian money of the country’s institutions and political parties – notably the Conservative Party. Some numbers: Since Boris Johnson became prime minister, in July 2019, his party benefited from 2 million pounds sterling (2.42 million euros) of Russian silver – the information is public, compiled by the Commission. British election.
Donations considered legal
One of the main donors is called Lubov Chernukhin, she has paid 2.2 million pounds to the Tories since 2012. Its last donation, 66,500 pounds sterling (80,700 euros), dates back to December 20, 2021. Discreet , this boss of a real estate company is married to a former assistant minister of the Russian finances that left Moscow in the early 2000s. In February 2020, she paid 45,000 pounds sterling (54,600 euros) for a part of tennis with Boris Johnson and Ben Elliot, the president of the Tories.
She disbursed 30,000 pounds (36,400 euros) for a place next to Gavin Williamson, then Minister of Education, at a charity dinner. In April 2020, she still spent 135,000 pounds (164,000 euros) to share a gourmet meal at Goring, a luxury hotel in London, with the former Prime Minister Theresa May and the Treasury Minister of the time, Liz TRUSS – Now foreign affairs. Lubov Chernukhin obtained British nationality in the early 2000s, his donations are considered legal.
Other generous Russian donor: Alexander Temerko businessman, who paid more than 1.3 million books (1.58 million euros) to the Conservative Party in recent years. Born in Ukraine, he made a fortune in armament and the energy sector, but defends oneself to be close to the Putin regime. British citizen since 2011, he says he has funded the Conservative Party because the latter is “pro-business” and does not agree with the “nationalizations” desired by the Labor Party. Purchase of influence, way to win in respectability? In recent weeks, Downing Street has been defended by emphasizing the British nationality of donors.
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