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Other oligarchs like Vladimir Gusinski faced similar fates. Gusinski’s independent TV network, NTV, was compelled to sell to state-controlled entities, and he was pushed out of Russia altogether, living in exile in Israel.
The Velvet Cage: Loyalty Tied to Wealth
By the mid-2000s, the once rebellious oligarch class had evolved into a more compliant one, understanding the new rules of engagement. Wealth and influence now came with strings attached: loyalty was non-negotiable. The Kremlin rewarded obedient billionaires—like Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov—with access, privileges, and a “velvet cage” of prosperity. They could build lavish estates, own sports teams, and enjoy luxuries worldwide, but their economic freedom was conditional: deviation meant losing everything.