French citizen Sergei Pugachev, former advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is currently wanted by Russian authorities. In the West, he is known as one of the Kremlin’s most prominent critics and has received death threats, resulting in roundtheclock state protection. How did one of the wealthiest individuals in Russia lose his assets? Why is Pugachev seeking over $12 billion from the Kremlin through The Hague Tribunal? Who is threatening his life? Can Swiss banks assist Russian oligarchs in evading sanctions? How is it possible for a bank based in Switzerland to forge a signature? And where was the child of Alina Kabaeva, whom Pugachev refers to as Putin’s de facto wife, actually born? All of these questions are addressed in an exclusive interview with Elena Servettaz in SWI swissinfo.ch's new special project, “On the Record”.

Watch more episodes in our special series, here:    • On the record  

00:00:00 Sergei Pugachev, teaser
00:01:11 Who is Sergei Pugachev?
00:02:30 His relationship with Vladimir Putin
00:04:30 Pugachev’s last meeting with Putin in Amsterdam
00:05:23 Death threats in the UK and France and Russian spy
00:08:50 Why does the Russian state owe Pugachev $12 billion?
00:15:10 Pugachev reads ‘top secret’ documents
00:16:31 Is there a chance of winning against Putin in The Hague?
00:17:22 Alina Kabaeva, her kids and her relationship with Putin
00:20:24 What attracts them to Switzerland?
00:21:13 ‘Societe Générale stole $100 million from my account’
00:22:09 Swiss banks help to avoid sanctions
#putin #sanctions #oligarchs


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