2014年经济学人 俄罗斯的寡头执政者

Russian oligarchs

Yukos 2.0?

The arrest of Vladimir Yevtushenkov recalls that of Mikhail Khodorkovsky

THE rules should be familiar to Vladimir Yevtushenkov, an oligarch with a 7 billion fortune who runs Sistema, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is in telecoms, tourism and oil. The state, he said in June, “will always find a way to put you in your place.” Now Mr Yevtushenkov is under house arrest, accused of money-laundering and handling stolen assets. Sistema lost over a third of its value in one day and the Russian stockmarket fell by 2%.

Parallels have been drawn¹ with the arrest of Mikhail Khodorkovsky in 2003 and the transfer of assets in his oil company, Yukos, to Rosneft, a rival now run by Igor Sechin, a confidant of President Vladimir Putin. Dmitry Peskov, Mr Putin's press secretary, claimed that “It is wrong and absurd to paint this story in a political light.” Russia has changed since 2003. Before, security servicemen needed a political motive² to take from disobedient oligarchs. Now obedience³ is no defence.

Whatever Mr Yevtushenkov's sins, they are not the source of his trouble. His loyalty⁴ to the Kremlin is unquestioned. The real cause seems to be his reluctance⁵ to part with an oil company wanted by Mr Sechin. Sistema bought Bashneft in 2009 for 2.5 billion from the son of a regional boss in Bashkortostan who, according to law enforcers, had expropriated it from the state. Rosneft proposed buying it from Mr Yevtushenkov, but he found the offer too low. House arrest may help him to change his mind.

Renewed infighting within the Russian elite⁶ reflects Western sanctions and a weakening economy. Rosneft is struggling to refinance 26 billion of debt due by the end of 2015. Oil production is falling, and the company needed some success to show Mr Putin. A takeover of Bashneft could cover its failings. This is Mr Khodorkovsky's view. He told Vedomosti, a business daily, that Mr Sechin “has not become any wiser, but perhaps just greedier.” The fight for the spoils in Russia can only grow more desperate.

1 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

2 motive   

n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的

参考例句：

• The police could not find a motive for the murder.警察不能找到谋杀的动机。
• He had some motive in telling this fable.他讲这寓言故事是有用意的。

3 obedience   

n.服从，顺从

参考例句：

• Society has a right to expect obedience of the law.社会有权要求人人遵守法律。
• Soldiers act in obedience to the orders of their superior officers.士兵们遵照上级军官的命令行动。

4 loyalty   

n.忠诚，忠心

参考例句：

• She told him the truth from a sense of loyalty.她告诉他真相是出于忠诚。
• His loyalty to his friends was never in doubt.他对朋友的一片忠心从来没受到怀疑。

5 reluctance   

n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿

参考例句：

• The police released Andrew with reluctance.警方勉强把安德鲁放走了。
• He showed the greatest reluctance to make a reply.他表示很不愿意答复。

6 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。