In the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, state-owned
assets and resources of the former world superpower were seized by a
tiny group of smart, ruthless, and well-connected businessmen. The
group, collectively dubbed the Russian oligarchs, rapidly joined the
ranks of the world’s richest people -- and now battle Russian president
Vladimir Putin for economic and political control of the country.
In a political climate in which journalists and other critics of the Kremlin face imprisonment and even assassination, Russian Godfathers
is a thoroughly up-to-date investigation of the rise and fall of the
Russian oligarchs and their ongoing war with Putin’s 21st Century
Russian Democracy. Obtaining unprecedented on-camera access to the
billionaires who are currently at war with Putin, the three-part series
offers unique insight on the ruthless struggle for wealth, power and
control over resources. An Oxford Film & Television Production for the BBC, Russian Godfathers is airing as part of Link TV’s Spotlight series.
Part 1: The Fugitive
Meet the charismatic and determined billionaire Boris Berezovsky, who
is waging his own Russian Revolution against President Putin -- from
Surrey, England. He lives in exile, having fled Russia in 2000 upon
facing fraud charges. Once Yeltsin's Cabinet Secretary, Berezovsky was
instrumental in choosing Putin as Yeltsin's replacement, but now he
feels that he has been stabbed in the back by Putin's charges.
Watch a clip from The Fugitive, and read more about the program
Watch Link TV in-studio experts discuss The Fugitive
Watch a clip from The Prisoner, and read more about the program
Watch Link TV in-studio experts discuss The Prisoner
Part 3: The Politician
Yuri Mikhailovich Luzhkov has been the mayor of Moscow since 1992,
and in that time has accumulated a fortune into the billions. He has
won re-election three times, with policies including compulsory
bulletproof windows for restaurants, fining weather-people for
inaccurate forecasts, and rebuilding the torn-down statue of infamous
KGB founder Felix Dzerzhinksy. He is also the last elected opposition
to Putin. It is election year
in Moscow, and The Politician chronicles a battle for control of one of the world's great cities.
Watch a clip from The Politician, and read more about the program
Watch Link TV in-studio experts discuss The Politician
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