Comrade Capitalism

Recent coverage

Read the full “Comrade Capitalism” series, including all our stories from 2015. Full Story

Billion-dollar medical project helped fund “Putin’s palace” on the Black Sea

Two associates of President Vladimir Putin profited from a state scheme to buy expensive medical equipment - and sent money to Swiss bank accounts linked to a property known as “Putin’s palace.” Full Story

When Putin ordered up new hospitals, his associates botched the operation

The president’s allies won contracts to build new medical centres across Russia. They failed, and the project hit $700 million in cost overruns. Full Story

Russian Railways paid billions of dollars to secretive private companies

The state-owned rail giant, run by an old friend of President Vladimir Putin, has awarded vast sums to contractors who disguise their ownership, a Reuters investigation finds. Full Story

In murky Pentagon deal with Russia, big profit for a tiny Florida firm

The Air Force relies on rocket engines made by a company overseen by associates of Vladimir Putin. Documents show a U.S.-Russian middleman stands to make $93 million on the contract. Full Story

Putin’s allies channelled billions to oligarch who backed pro-Russian president of Ukraine

Russian bank granted huge loans to Dmitry Firtash, whose business empire boomed under Viktor Yanukovich. Full Story

How a 29-year-old Ukrainian tycoon made a killing on Russian gas

Serhiy Kurchenko, who is suspected of acting on behalf of the former Moscow-backed president of Ukraine, gained $100 million on gas supplied at a preferential rate. Full Story

Opaque middlemen exact high price in Russia’s deals with the West

Some major Western firms sell life-saving medical equipment to Russia via obscure intermediaries who bump up prices. It means Russian citizens pay over the odds and big profits disappear offshore. Full Story

Crunch time: As sanctions bite, Putin ally gets into apples

When Russia recently banned imports of some foreign fruit and other foods, it was seen as retaliation against Western sanctions. The move will also benefit a venture by one of the president’s long-standing supporters. Full Story

For many Russians, a growing list of problems – but not with Putin

Russia has boomed under President Vladimir Putin, but many Russians have missed out on the improvements and complain that basic amenities are poorly built or non-existent. Will a looming recession hurt his support? Full Story

About the series

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia became a wild east in which communist central planning was supplanted by crude, free-wheeling capitalism. Full Story