The businessman assured that he could not influence the Russian dictator Putin, so he considers the sanctions against himself unfair.

Friedman said he “didn’t know how to live” under sanctions / REUTERS photo

Russian oligarch, founder of Alfa Group, Mikhail Fridman, said he did not understand the expediency of imposing sanctions against Russian billionaires, since businessmen allegedly have no influence on the country’s leadership.

He stated this in an interview with Bloomberg .

The oligarch complained that because of the sanctions, his bank cards were frozen. Friedman noted that for “reasonable” expenses in the amount of 2.5 thousand pounds a month, he must ask permission.

“I don’t know how to live. I really don’t know,” Friedman said.

In his opinion, the EU does not understand how the system of power in Russia works.

“If those who make decisions in the European Union think that I can go to Mr. Putin and ask him to stop the war, and it will work, then we are in big trouble. This means that these people do not understand how Russia works. This is a threat to the future ” Friedman said.

The oligarch assured that the personal meeting of businessmen with the President of the Russian Federation, which took place on February 24, does not indicate influence and should not be a reason for sanctions.

“The distance between Putin and everyone else in the power hierarchy is like between Earth and space. Saying something to Putin against the war, whoever it is, would be suicidal,” Friedman said.

The businessman also said that he did not get rid of Russian assets, because he feels an emotional connection with the business, which he “built from the first brick.”

Mikhail Fridman is a Russian oligarch and banker. He is considered one of the oligarchs of the “seven bankers” during the presidency of Boris Yeltsin, which had a great influence on the political decisions of the Kremlin.

Fridman was born in western Ukraine. Until the age of 17, he lived in Ukraine, and his parents still live in Lviv. Forbes estimates his fortune at $15.5 billion. Friedman is considered the 11th richest person in Britain.

As UNIAN previously reported, Oleg Tinkov, Oleg Deripaska and Mikhail Fridman  do not support Vladimir Putin’s decision to fight  Ukraine.

“This is unthinkable and unacceptable! States should spend money on treating people, not on war,” Tinkov said.

In turn  , the European Union imposed sanctions  against the close circle of Russian President Vladimir Putin and propagandists.

After the start of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine  , the ruble fell . On Monday, March 7, he updated the historical low of 140 per dollar. The cost of the euro exceeded 150 rubles.

(C)UNIAN 2022